Finance Exam Prep

Finance Exam Prep

By Ran Chen, EA, CFP®BusinessEducationCoursesCareers
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Finance Exam Prep episodes

  • [CFA Level I] 26, Historical Bootstrap and Monte Carlo Simulation
    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 core differences between historical bootstrapping and parametric Monte Carlo simulation.
    - How resampling with replacement constructs an empirical distribution without distribution assumptions.
    - Key strengths of historical bootstrapping in preserving skewness and fat tails.
    - Distinction between single-period support bounds and multi-period compounded losses in bootstrapping.
    - Parameter and model risk inherent in parametric Monte Carlo simulation.
    This independent study material helps candidates master Quantitative Methods concepts for the CFA Level I exam. Explore additional study tools at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and watch video explanations on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    - https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    - https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 25, Confidence Intervals and Statistical Hypotheses
    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:
    - Difference between population parameters and sample statistics in financial analysis
    - Central Limit Theorem mechanics, conditions, and practical application boundaries
    - Construction and numerical calculation of confidence intervals for population means
    - Definitions and trade-offs of Type I error, Type II error, and statistical power
    - Correct interpretation of p-values and decision rules for statistical hypothesis testing
    This independent prep content is designed to supplement your study routine. Practice questions and video tutorials are available at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    - https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    - https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 24, Expected Returns Covariance and Correlation
    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 joint probabilities across mutually exclusive economic states must sum to one when calculating expected asset returns.
    • The step-by-step procedure for calculating probability-weighted covariance between two asset returns.
    • How to derive and interpret the correlation coefficient within its bounded range of negative one to positive one.
    • Why a correlation coefficient of zero indicates no linear relationship but does not imply general independence.
    • The key distinction between state-space probability weighting and sample covariance calculations.
    This independent study lesson is designed to supplement your CFA Level I exam preparation. For additional study resources, practice questions, and interactive learning tools, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 or check out our channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 23, Probability Conditional Information and Bayes
    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 unconditional prior probability and updated conditional posterior probability.
    • How to apply Bayes formula using total unconditional probability as the normalizing denominator.
    • A step-by-step small count credit distress screening example.
    • How to identify and avoid the inverse conditional fallacy on quantitative problems.
    • A simple decision rule for updating probabilities when new information arrives.
    This independent prep content helps you master core quantitative techniques for your study plan. Practice online at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and watch video breakdowns at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 22, Skewness Kurtosis and Downside Risk
    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 definitions of positive and negative skewness and their impact on typical unimodal distributions.
    * How kurtosis and excess kurtosis reflect standardized fourth moments and tail sensitivity.
    * Why symmetric dispersion metrics like standard deviation can misstate downside exposure.
    * The calculation steps and sample size denominator used for target downside deviation.
    * Why summary distribution moments alone cannot determine target downside deviation without actual return observations.
    This episode provides independent candidate prep and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CFA Institute. Practice questions available at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    4 min
  • [CFA Level I] 21, Mean Median and Dispersion in Return Data
    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 median provides an outlier-robust measure of central tendency compared to the arithmetic mean.
    • Why sample variance uses n minus one in the denominator to eliminate estimation bias.
    • How Bessel's correction adjusts sample variance for degrees of freedom lost when estimating the sample mean.
    • Why standard deviation restores variance from squared units back to original percentage return units.
    • Common calculation traps involving sample versus population dispersion on the CFA Level I exam.
    This independent study supplement is designed for self-paced exam prep. Practice CFA Level I questions and tools: https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 or subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    • https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    • https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 20, Compounding Frequency and Effective Annual Rates
    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:
    * Distinction between stated annual rates and effective annual rates
    * Converting quoted nominal rates into quarterly periodic rates
    * Exact multi-year compounding calculations using periodic and effective rates
    * Common exam traps involving linear multiplication of effective annual rates
    * Decision rules for adjusting compounding frequencies in Quantitative Methods
    This independent study resource is not affiliated with or endorsed by CFA Institute. For practice questions and additional tools, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/curriculum-update-2027.pdf
    4 min
  • [CFA Level I] 19, Present Value and Cash-Flow Timing
    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 discounting future cash flows determines present value in the CFA Level I curriculum.
    - The structural difference in timing between an ordinary annuity and an annuity due.
    - How to adjust financial calculator modes between end-of-period and beginning-of-period cash flows.
    - Why financial calculator sign conventions require distinguishing cash inflows from cash outflows.
    - How misidentifying cash flow timing or sign conventions leads to incorrect present value calculations.
    This independent prep episode is designed to supplement your study routine with targeted concepts. Practice hundreds of practice questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and watch video lessons at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 18, Index Weights and Rebalancing Effects
    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:
    * Differences between price-weighted, market-capitalization-weighted, and equal-weighted indices.
    * How stock splits affect price-weighted index divisors and constituent weights.
    * Why higher share price does not imply a larger company or higher market capitalization.
    * Self-adjusting properties of market-cap weighted indices during corporate actions.
    * Rebalancing effects, turnover, and contrarian tilts in equal-weighted index strategies.
    This independent study resource is designed to help candidates master Level I concepts. Access free practice questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and watch video explanations on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/curriculum-update-2027.pdf
    5 min
  • [CFA Level I] 17, Time-Weighted and Money-Weighted Performance
    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 time-weighted return isolates investment performance by removing cash flow timing effects.
    - How money-weighted return calculates internal rate of return based on client deposits and withdrawals.
    - Why fund managers are evaluated using time-weighted return unless they control external cash flow timing.
    - How annualizing returns on equal periodicity reveals the divergence between time-weighted and money-weighted performance.
    - The decision rule for matching performance metrics to manager evaluation and investor experience.
    This independent prep episode supplements your official study resources. Practice at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/cfa-level1 and watch video walkthroughs on https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep .
    Sources checked: October 12, 2026
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/candidate-resources/level-i-exam
    https://www.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/2027levelitopicoutline_online.pdf
    5 min

About Finance Exam Prep

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Finance Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future tax and finance professionals pass their certification and licensing exams with clarity and confidence.

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