Insurance Exam Prep

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: - Why Inland Marine insurance exists to cover movable property, filling a gap left by standard fixed-location policies. - How a Personal Articles Floater provides broad, open-peril coverage for scheduled valuables like jewelry and cameras. - The distinction between personal floaters and commercial floaters, such as a Contractor's Equipment Floater. - What t...

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: - That the DP-1 is a basic, named-peril policy that pays all claims on an Actual Cash Value basis. - How the DP-2 broadens coverage with more named perils and introduces Replacement Cost for the dwelling. - Why the DP-3 offers superior open-peril coverage for the dwelling but retains named-peril coverage for p...

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: - Dwelling policies are primarily for non-owner-occupied properties like rentals, whereas homeowners policies are for owner-occupied residences. - The DP-1 (Basic Form) is a named peril policy that settles losses on an Actual Cash Value (ACV) basis. - The DP-2 (Broad Form) covers more named perils than the DP-1 and upgrades building c...

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: - Standard exam sublimits for money ($200), jewelry ($1,500), and firearms ($2,500). - Why theft-related sublimits for items like jewelry and silverware do not apply to other perils like fire. - The different on-premises ($2,500) and off-premises ($500-$1,500) limits for business property. - How the Scheduled Personal Property Endorsement provides agreed-value, open-peril coverage to bypass sublimits. ...

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: - Why catastrophic perils like flood and earth movement are excluded and require separate policies. - The difference between covered sudden and accidental damage versus excluded gradual wear and tear or neglect. - That the Ordinance or Law exclusion applies to the increased cost of rebuilding to code, not the initial loss i...

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 fundamental difference between named perils (what's listed is covered) and open perils (what's not excluded is covered). - How the common HO-3 policy provides open perils coverage for the dwelling and named perils for personal property. - Why the burden of proof shifts from the insured in a named perils p...

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 Coverage E (Personal Liability) protects you when you are legally at fault for injuries or property damage. - The function of Coverage F (Medical Payments) as a no-fault coverage to handle minor injuries and prevent lawsuits. - Who is considered an "insured" under the policy, including resident relatives and minors i...

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: - Coverage A (Dwelling) protects the main home, attached structures, and construction materials on site. - Coverage B (Other Structures) has a standard limit of 10% of Coverage A and excludes structures used for business. - Coverage C (Personal Property) is typically 50% of Coverage A and has special sub-limits for items like jewelry a...

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 key difference between Named Peril (HO-2) and Open Peril (HO-3, HO-5) coverage. - Why the HO-3 is a hybrid policy and a common source of exam traps regarding personal property. - How the HO-5 offers the broadest protection for both the dwelling and personal property. - The specific uses for a...

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 key difference between specific, calculable Special Damages and subjective, non-economic General Damages. - Why Punitive Damages exist to punish the wrongdoer and are typically excluded from liability policy coverage. - That Supplementary Payments are paid by the insurer in addition to the stated policy liability limits. - How to use t...

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: - Absolute liability applies to inherently dangerous activities, and no proof of fault is required. - Strict liability is specifically for defective products that cause harm, regardless of the manufacturer's negligence. - Vicarious liability holds one party responsible for another's actions, such as an employer for an employee. - Professional liability (E&O...

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 four essential elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. - How causation is a two-part test of both actual cause and proximate (foreseeable) cause. - The difference between contributory negligence, an all-or-nothing rule, and comparative negligence, which reduces recovery based on fault. - How to calculate liability payments in a...

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 precise difference between appraisal (for disputes over loss amount) and arbitration (for disputes over coverage). - Why the appraisal process involves two appraisers and an umpire to reach a binding decision on value. - The critical rule of assignment: a policy cannot be transferred to another person without the insurer's w...

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 'Other Insurance' clause prevents an insured from profiting from a loss by ensuring multiple policies share the cost proportionally. - Primary coverage pays first up to its limit, while excess coverage only pays after the primary policy's limits are completely exhausted. - Subrogation is the insurer's right to sue the a...

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: - Exclusions are provisions that narrow coverage by removing specific perils or property from the base policy. - Endorsements are written modifications used to add, remove, or change the terms of a standard insurance contract. - When there is a conflict between the main policy and an endorsement, the endorsement's language always t...

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 critical difference between giving a prompt Notice of Claim and submitting a formal Proof of Loss. - Why the insured's duty to protect property from further damage is a heavily tested concept. - How the timeline for submitting a Proof of Loss is triggered by the insurer's request, not the d...

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 Declarations page personalizes the policy, detailing the "who, what, where, when, and how much." - Exam questions frequently test where to find specific information like named insureds, policy limits, and deductibles (Answer: Declarations). - The Insuring Agreement contains the insurer's core promise to pay for covered losses and defines the p...

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: - A binder is a temporary, legally binding contract providing immediate insurance coverage until a formal policy is issued. - Only agents with 'binding authority' from an insurer can issue a binder, committing the company to the risk. - Binders must contain essential details like the insurer's name, coverage limits, effective date, a...

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 a per-occurrence limit, which caps a single event, and an aggregate limit, which caps total payments for the policy period. - How sublimits impose lower, specific caps on high-risk property like jewelry, regardless of the overall policy limit. - The purpose of a coinsurance clause is to encourage p...

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: - Proximate cause is the initial event in an unbroken chain that leads to a loss. - Damage from subsequent events is typically covered if the proximate cause was a covered peril. - Concurrent causation involves both a covered and an excluded peril contributing to a single loss. - Anti-concurrent causation clauses a...

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 fundamental difference between Actual Cash Value (ACV) and Replacement Cost is depreciation. - How to calculate ACV using the formula: Replacement Cost - Depreciation = ACV. - Why Agreed Value is used for unique items like classic cars to guarantee a specific payout and avoid disputes. - The critical exam trap o...

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: - Insurable interest in Property & Casualty insurance must exist at the time of the loss. - The principle of indemnity means insurance restores you to your pre-loss financial state, preventing profit from a claim. - Having an insurable interest means you would suffer a financial hardship if the insured property were damaged. ...

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 five primary methods of handling risk are Sharing, Transfer, Avoidance, Reduction, and Retention (STARR). - Purchasing an insurance policy is the most common and direct example of risk transfer. - A deductible in an insurance policy represents risk retention, where the policyholder accepts a portion of the loss. - Installing s...

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 Law of Large Numbers allows insurers to accurately predict future losses. - The six essential elements of an insurable risk, remembered by the mnemonic CANHAM. - Why catastrophic events, such as wars or nuclear incidents, are typically excluded from insurance policies. - The critical difference between pure risk, which i...

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: - Risk is the uncertainty of loss; only pure risk (loss or no loss) is insurable, not speculative risk (chance of gain or loss). - A peril is the direct cause of a loss, such as fire or wind. - A hazard increases the chance of a loss and can be physical (i...

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: - Premiums for tax-qualified LTC insurance can be partially deducted based on the policyholder's age. - Benefits from a tax-qualified LTC policy are received income-tax-free, but only up to a federally set per diem limit. - HSA distributions used for qualified medical expenses are always free from both income tax and penalties. ...

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: - Employer-paid group health insurance premiums are a deductible business expense, and the benefit is tax-free to the employee. - The core rule for group disability insurance: the tax treatment of the premium determines the taxability of the benefit. - Why benefits from a non-contributory (100% employer-paid) disability plan are fully taxable to t...

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: - Self-employed individuals can take an above-the-line deduction for health insurance premiums, up to the net profit of the business. - Employees paying for individual policies with after-tax dollars can only deduct premiums as an itemized medical expense. - The itemized deduction for medical expenses is only for costs that exceed 7.5% of A...

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: - Dental services are categorized as preventive (100% coverage), basic (around 80% coverage), and major (around 50% coverage). - Dental plans have an annual maximum benefit that resets each year, typically between $1,000 and $2,000. - Orthodontic coverage is subject to a lifetime maximum limit, which does not renew annually. - Waiting periods often apply to basic (3...

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: - Critical Illness insurance pays a one-time, lump-sum cash benefit directly to you upon diagnosis of a covered condition like cancer or a stroke. - Hospital Indemnity insurance pays a fixed daily or weekly amount directly to you for each day you are confined in a hospital. - Benefits from both plans a...

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 the Principal Sum (for accidental death) and the Capital Sum (for dismemberment). - Why AD&D will not pay for a death caused by a sickness, like a heart attack, even if it results in an accident. - How the 90-day time limit between the accident and the l...

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: - MHPAEA requires parity for financial requirements and treatment limitations between mental health/substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits. - The 2026 'Meaningful Benefits Standard' mandates that plans cover core mental health and substance use disorder treatments in every classification where medical benefits are offered. - Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs), like p...

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: - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are employee-funded, subject to a "use-it-or-lose-it" rule, with a 2026 maximum carryover of $680. - Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are exclusively funded by the employer, and unused funds typically roll over without a limit. - A key exam distinction is ownership: FSAs and HRAs are employer-owned, while Health Savings A...

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: - HSA eligibility requires enrollment in a qualified High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and not being enrolled in Medicare. - HSAs feature a powerful triple-tax advantage: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. - The 2026 HSA contribution limits are $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage, with an additional $1,000 c...

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: - Section 125 plans let employees pay for qualified benefits with pre-tax dollars, lowering their taxable income. - The core choice in a cafeteria plan is between receiving taxable cash salary or non-taxable benefits. - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are governed by the strict "use-it-or-lose-it" rule where unused funds are forfeited. - A p...

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: - That a fiduciary's primary duty under ERISA is to act solely in the interest of plan participants and beneficiaries. - Key details about the Summary Plan Description (SPD), including that it must be provided automatically to new participants within 90 days of coverage. - The distinction between fully insured and self-insured plans r...

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 HIPAA limits pre-existing condition exclusions using a 6-month look-back period and a maximum 12-month exclusion. - The role of creditable coverage in reducing or eliminating pre-existing condition exclusion periods. - What qualifying life events trigger a special enrollment period outside of open enrollment. - The key components of the HIPAA P...

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 employer has 30 days to notify the plan administrator of qualifying events like termination or reduction in hours. - The employee or beneficiary has 60 days to notify the plan administrator of qualifying events like divorce or a child losing dependent status. - A qualified beneficiary has a 60-day period to elect t...

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: - That COBRA is a federal law applying to employers with 20 or more employees. - The difference in qualifying events for employees (termination, reduced hours) versus dependents (death, divorce, Medicare eligibility). - The standard continuation period is 18 months for termination or reduction in hours. - Dependents are eligible for a longer, 36-month c...

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 distinction between the master contract held by the employer and the certificate of insurance provided to employees. - Common eligibility requirements for group coverage, including waiting periods for new hires. - The key differences between contributory and noncontributory plans, including their required participation percentages. - The function and importance of t...