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Published on:

25th Feb 2026

[Series 6] 20, Life Insurance Taxation

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 Series 6 Exam. In this episode you will learn: - Death benefits from life insurance policies are typically received income tax-free by beneficiaries. - Cash value within a life insurance policy grows on a tax-deferred basis. - Policy loans are not considered taxable distributions for standard, non-MEC policies. - A life insurance policy becomes a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC) if it is overfunded and fails the 7-pay test. - Distributions from a MEC, including loans, are taxed on a Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) basis, with gains taxed first and subject to a potential 10% penalty if the owner is under 59.5. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818

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About the Podcast

Open Exam Prep
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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/
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