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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 2025 Ran Chen, EA, CFP® Education
Episodes
  • [SIE] 17, Bond Pricing and Yields

    [SIE] 17, Bond Pricing and Yields
    Dec 25 2025
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The inverse relationship between bond prices and interest rates, often compared to a seesaw. - How to calculate a bond's Current Yield and why it differs from the fixed coupon rate. - The key differences between Current Yield (CY), Yield to Maturity (YTM), and Yield to Call (YTC). - A simple rule, "The Coupon is your Compass," for ranking yields on discount bonds (coupon is lowest). - How to use the same rule for ranking yields on premium bonds (coupon is highest) and avoid common exam traps. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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    4 mins
  • [SIE] 16, Corporate Bonds Fundamentals

    [SIE] 16, Corporate Bonds Fundamentals
    Dec 24 2025
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The definitions of par value, coupon rate, and maturity date for corporate bonds. - The fundamental inverse relationship between market interest rates and existing bond prices. - Why a bond's price decreases to trade at a discount when interest rates rise. - Why a bond's price increases to trade at a premium when interest rates fall. - How to use the "Interest Rate Seesaw" as a mental model to remember this key concept. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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    4 mins
  • [SIE] 15, Rights and Warrants

    [SIE] 15, Rights and Warrants
    Dec 23 2025
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The primary purpose of preemptive rights in protecting existing shareholders from dilution. - How the exercise price for rights is set below the current market price to create immediate value. - The role of warrants as long-term sweeteners, often attached to bonds or preferred stock. - Why warrants are issued with an exercise price above the current market value for future potential gain. - A simple mnemonic to distinguish between short-term rights and long-term warrants for exam day. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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    4 mins
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