Podcast
Insurance Exam Prep
Hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP® · EN
Insurance Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future insurance professionals pass their licensing exams with clarity and confidence.
Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down insurance licensing exams into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and Property & Casualty, across both the national portion and state-specific requirements. Each episode targets one key concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessions.
Created by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®, a financial professional and exam specialist who has personally passed multiple professional licensing exams, Insurance Exam Prep was developed from firsthand experience with how complex—and often poorly taught—insurance exam material can be. The goal is simple: make insurance exam preparation clearer, more accessible, and more effective through structured explanations and modern learning tools. Whether you’re preparing for a Life, Health, or P&C exam, just starting your licensing journey, or reviewing before test day, this podcast is designed to guide you step by step—one concept at a time.
Free practice tools, AI-powered explanations, and additional exam prep resources are available at: https://open-exam-prep.com/
95episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Property & Casualty Exam Prep 72, Surplus Lines and Residual Markets
Today00:03:15Tap to summarizeThis 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 differences between admitted insurers (state-licensed, guaranty fund protection) and nonadmitted insurers (unlicensed, no guaranty fund). - Why a "diligent search" is a strict prerequisite before placing a policy with a surplus lines insurer. - The purpose of residual markets as a last-resort option for obtaining essential insurance coverage. - How assigned risk plans function to provide auto insurance to high-risk drivers who are denied in the voluntary market. - The role of FAIR plans in offering basic property insurance to owners of properties considered too risky for standard carriers. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 71, State Guaranty Associations and Insolvency
Yesterday00:02:29Tap to summarizeThis 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 State Guaranty Associations exist to pay the claims of insolvent insurers, protecting policyholders. - That these associations are funded through assessments on solvent member insurers, not by taxpayers. - That claim payments are subject to statutory limits, commonly up to $300,000 for P&C claims. - Why it is a strictly prohibited and unfair trade practice for producers to advertise the guaranty association. - That using the association's existence as a sales inducement is a major exam trap and a violation of insurance law. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 70, Premium Audits and Deposit Premiums
2d ago00:03:06Tap to summarizeThis 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 deposit premium is an estimated, upfront payment for auditable policies like Workers' Compensation and General Liability. - Auditable policy premiums are based on variable exposures, such as payroll for Workers' Comp or gross sales for General Liability. - A final audit occurs after the policy period to compare the initial estimates with the actual exposures. - If actual exposure is higher than estimated, an additional premium is due; if lower, a return premium is issued. - A key exam trap involves employee misclassification found during an audit, which can drastically change the final premium even if total payroll was estimated correctly. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 69, Certificates of Insurance
3d ago00:02:13Tap to summarizeThis 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 Certificate of Insurance (COI) is only evidence of a policy's existence at a specific point in time. - Why a COI does not grant any policy rights or coverage to the certificate holder. - The critical difference between a certificate holder and a true 'additional insured' status, which requires a policy endorsement. - That cancellation notices on a COI are not binding on the insurer unless they reflect the actual terms of the policy. - That a COI cannot amend, alter, or extend the terms and conditions of the insurance policy itself. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 68, Mortgagee, Loss Payee, and Additional Insured
4d ago00:03:25Tap to summarizeThis 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 property rights (Mortgagee, Loss Payee) and liability protection (Additional Insured). - Why a Mortgagee has the strongest rights and gets paid even if the insured commits fraud. - The distinction between a standard Loss Payee and a Lender's Loss Payable clause for personal property. - When to use an Additional Insured endorsement to extend liability coverage to another party, like a landlord. - How 'Additional Interest' is a distractor term on the exam, offering no actual coverage. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 67, Claims Handling and Loss Investigation
5d ago00:03:25Tap to summarizeThis 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 steps in the insurance claims process, from First Notice of Loss to Settlement. - The crucial difference between salvage (recovering property) and subrogation (recovering from a third party). - Why producers and adjusters must avoid making unauthorized promises about claim payments. - The purpose and function of a claim reserve in ensuring an insurer's financial stability. - Key duties of a claims adjuster, including investigation, documentation, and communication. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 66, Cancellation, Nonrenewal, and Policy Changes
6d ago00:02:57Tap to summarizeThis 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 a mid-term cancellation and an end-of-term nonrenewal. - Why insurers have broader rights to cancel a policy within the first 60 days. - How premium refunds are calculated as pro-rata or short-rate depending on who cancels. - The universal requirement for insurers to provide advance written notice before termination. - That only the insurer can modify policy terms, which must be done via a written endorsement. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 65, Fair Credit Reporting Act and Privacy
1w ago00:03:01Tap to summarizeThis 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 standard consumer report contains facts, while an investigative report includes subjective interviews about character and reputation. - Insurers must issue an adverse action notice if they deny coverage or charge higher rates due to information in a consumer report. - An adverse action notice must identify the reporting agency and state the consumer's right to get a free copy of the report. - The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) requires insurers to provide customers with both an initial and an annual privacy notice. - Under GLBA, consumers have the right to opt out of having their nonpublic personal information shared with non-affiliated third parties. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 64, Fraud, Misrepresentation, Concealment, and Warranties
1w ago00:03:09Tap to summarizeThis 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 representation is a statement believed to be true, whereas a warranty is a statement guaranteed to be true. - A misrepresentation is a false statement, but it only affects the policy if it is material—meaning the insurer would have made a different decision if they knew the truth. - Concealment is the intentional failure to disclose a known material fact to the insurer. - Fraud is an intentional misrepresentation or concealment made with the intent to deceive for financial gain. - Exam questions often test the concept of materiality and the applicant's intent to differentiate between these key terms. 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
Transcribe →Property & Casualty Exam Prep 63, Unfair Claims Settlement Practices
1w ago00:03:14Tap to summarizeThis 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: - Failing to acknowledge and act promptly on claim communications is a prohibited unfair practice. - Insurers must conduct a reasonable investigation before denying a claim; refusing to do so is a violation. - Knowingly misrepresenting policy provisions or pertinent facts to a claimant to avoid payment is illegal. - Compelling a policyholder to sue by offering substantially less than what a claim is worth is an unfair settlement practice. - An insurer must provide a reasonable and specific explanation for any claim denial based on the policy. 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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