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Published on:

9th Jan 2026

[SIE] 33, Variable Annuities - Basics

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 SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - Why variable annuities are considered hybrid products, regulated as both insurance and securities. - The role of the separate account and its subaccounts in providing investment exposure and variable returns. - How accumulation units function during the pay-in phase and why their number changes. - The process of annuitization and why the number of annuity units becomes fixed for the payout phase. - A mnemonic to distinguish between the changing number of accumulation units and the fixed number of annuity units. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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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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