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Open Exam Prep

Open Exam Prep

By: Ran Chen EA CFP®
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Open Exam Prep: Mastering Financial Exams The path to becoming a certified financial professional is known for its difficulty, and finding high-quality, accessible study material shouldn't be the hardest part. Created by Ran Chen—an AI application enthusiast, Financial Advisor, and holder of the EA (Tax), Life Insurance, Series 6/63/65, and CFP® designations—this podcast was born from personal experience. Having navigated these challenging exams himself, Ran realized the need for better resources and created Open Exam Prep as a free solution for aspiring professionals. Each episode breaks down complex major exam topics into clear, digestible lessons, covering everything from tax planning and estate strategies to retirement solutions and investment principles. Whether you’re studying during your commute, workout, or downtime, we are here to guide you—one question, one topic, one victory at a time. Visit for more content: https://open-exam-prep.com/Copyright 2026 Ran Chen, EA, CFP® Education
Episodes
  • [Series 65] 8, Financial Statements and Accounting Fundamentals

    [Series 65] 8, Financial Statements and Accounting Fundamentals
    Apr 1 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The purpose and key components of the income statement, including the difference between revenue and net income. - How the balance sheet provides a snapshot of a company's financial health through the accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders' Equity. - The function of the statement of cash flows and its relationship to the income statement, particularly concerning non-cash expenses like depreciation. - The distinction between cash and accrual accounting, and why GAAP mandates the use of the accrual method for public companies. - A simple mnemonic to help you remember the core function of each of the three main financial statements. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins
  • [Series 65] 7, International Economics and Balance of Payments

    [Series 65] 7, International Economics and Balance of Payments
    Mar 31 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How a strengthening U.S. dollar negatively impacts U.S. exporters and benefits U.S. importers. - The direct relationship between a strong dollar and a U.S. trade deficit. - How a weakening U.S. dollar can help reduce a trade deficit by making exports cheaper and imports more expensive. - The concept of the balance of payments, including the current account and the difference between debits (money out) and credits (money in). - The connection between Federal Reserve monetary policy, interest rates, currency strength, and the balance of trade.
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    4 mins
  • [Series 65] 6, Interest Rates and Yield Curves

    [Series 65] 6, Interest Rates and Yield Curves
    Mar 30 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices, often visualized as a seesaw. - A normal, upward-sloping yield curve typically signals expectations of economic expansion. - An inverted, downward-sloping yield curve is a classic indicator of a potential economic recession. - The Federal Funds Rate is the volatile overnight lending rate between banks, which is targeted by the Federal Reserve to conduct monetary policy. - The Prime Rate is the benchmark rate banks charge their best corporate clients and is directly influenced by, and higher than, the Federal Funds Rate. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
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