Open Exam Prep

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®
  • 4.2 (5)
  • Courses

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/

  1. 7h ago

    [Series 66] 38, Agent Registration and Exclusions

    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 the Uniform Securities Act defines an agent as an individual representing a broker-dealer or issuer. - The narrow exclusion for clerical and ministerial employees at broker-dealers who do not effect or solicit trades. - Why individuals representing issuers in exempt securities or exempt transactions are excluded from agent registration. - Why representing a broker-dealer selling exempt securities still requires state agent registration. - A simple decision rule to evaluate entity representation before examining security exemptions on state exams. This independent study resource is designed to help you master Uniform Securities Act regulations. Practice additional questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and watch video explanations at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 - https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Series-66-Outline-June-2023.pdf - https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/series66

  2. 1d ago

    [Series 66] 37, Broker-Dealer Definitions and Registration

    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 statutory definition of a broker-dealer and entities excluded under the Uniform Securities Act. • Why broker-dealers lack a de minimis exemption for state registration with retail clients. • How Form BD, filing fees, and the Consent to Service of Process complete initial registration. • Effective registration timelines, annual renewal, and net capital limitations under federal law. • A simple decision rule to determine when out-of-state broker-dealer registration is mandatory. This independent study episode helps candidates prepare for the Series 66 exam. For practice questions and study tools, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Series-66-Outline-June-2023.pdf https://www.nasaa.org/exams/general-exam-information/series-66-exam-content-outline/

  3. 2d ago

    [Series 66] 36, IAR Registration and Place of Business

    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 legal distinction between an investment adviser entity and an investment adviser representative * How physical place of business is defined under SEC Rule 203A-3 * The federal preemption rule governing registration for representatives of federal covered advisers * How the de minimis client count exemption applies differently depending on adviser registration type * A simple decision rule to evaluate state registration requirements on exam day This independent prep episode helps candidates master state registration principles for the Series 66 exam. For interactive practice, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Series-66-Outline-June-2023.pdf https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/series66 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-17/section-275.203A-3

  4. 3d ago

    [Series 66] 35, Adviser Exemptions and Notice Filing

    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 difference between state adviser registration and federal covered adviser notice filing. - How the de minimis exemption applies to out-of-state investment advisers. - Requirements for an adviser notice filing package including Form ADV and fees. - The distinct state registration rules governing investment adviser representatives. - How physical place of business impacts exemption eligibility and registration triggers. This independent study guide supports candidates preparing for state securities licensing. Practice questions are available at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and video resources at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 - https://www.nasaa.org/exams/general-exam-information/series-66-exam-content-outline/ - https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/series66

  5. 4d ago

    [Series 66] 34, State vs Federal Adviser Registration

    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 assets under management (AUM) thresholds determine state versus federal SEC registration for investment advisers. - The key difference between optional SEC registration at $100 million AUM and mandatory registration at $110 million AUM. - How buffer rules govern transitions, including the 90-day SEC registration window and 180-day state registration window. - Why an investment adviser can be an individual sole proprietor or a legal entity rather than strictly a firm. - A simple decision rule to easily remember registration, mandatory transition, and withdrawal thresholds on exam day. This independent study resource helps candidates master state and federal adviser registration rules for Series 66 exam preparation. Explore interactive study tools at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 - https://www.nasaa.org/exams/general-exam-information/series-66-exam-content-outline/ - https://www.sec.gov/investment-advisers https://www.sec.gov/about/divisions-offices/division-investment-management/electronic-filing-investment-advisers-iard/frequently-asked-questions-form-adv-iard

  6. 5d ago

    [Series 66] 33, Investment Adviser Definitions and Exclusions

    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 three-prong legal test used to define an investment adviser under federal and state securities laws. * Statutory exclusions under the Uniform Securities Act including banks, publishers, and the LATE professionals. * How incidental advice and separate compensation affect professional exclusions for lawyers and accountants. * Key distinctions between investment advisers, investment adviser representatives, broker-dealers, and agents. * A simple three-step decision rule for evaluating adviser definitions, exclusions, and state registration requirements. This independent prep episode helps you master Series 66 concepts through structured analysis. For practice tools, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Series-66-Outline-June-2023.pdf https://www.nasaa.org/exams/general-exam-information/series-66-exam-content-outline/ https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1956-Uniform-Securities-Act-with-NASAA-Updates-and-Commentary.pdf

  7. 6d ago

    [Series 66] 32, Matching Recommendations to Client Needs

    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 to analyze financial and non-financial client profile factors for Series 66 suitability. - Why placing municipal bonds in tax-deferred accounts is a classic suitability trap. - How fiduciary standards for IARs differ from suitability and Reg BI for BD agents. - The Profile Priority Rule for balancing expressed goals with actual financial capacity. - How to evaluate product liquidity against client withdrawal time horizons. This independent study resource helps candidates prepare for the Series 66 exam. Practice more questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026 https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Series-66-Outline-June-2023.pdf https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/series66

  8. Oct 24

    [Series 66] 31, Measuring and Comparing Portfolio Returns

    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 total return combines capital appreciation and income dividends or interest. * The difference between time-weighted return and dollar-weighted return when evaluating investment adviser management. * How risk-adjusted return measures such as the Sharpe ratio evaluate performance relative to total risk. * How Jensen's alpha measures portfolio return relative to expected return calculated by the capital asset pricing model. * Why inflation-adjusted real returns and benchmark comparisons are essential for evaluating client portfolio performance. This episode is part of an independent prep series for the Series 66 examination. For additional study materials, practice questions, and study tools, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/series66 and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 14, 2026. https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Series-66-Outline-June-2023.pdf https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/series66

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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
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About

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/

Information

  • Creator
    Ran Chen, EA, CFP®
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    453
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Ran Chen, EA, CFP®
  • Show Website
    Open Exam Prep

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