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:

• Adjustments to income, or "above-the-line" deductions, reduce your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), the most critical number for determining tax benefits.

• A lower AGI can increase eligibility for numerous tax credits and deductions that have income limitations.

• The exam frequently tests specific deduction limits, such as the $300 for educator expenses and the $2,500 for student loan interest.

• A common exam trap for the self-employed is knowing to deduct only one-half of the self-employment taxes paid, not the full amount.

• You can claim adjustments to income even if you also take the standard deduction, unlike itemized deductions.

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