full

full
Published on:

10th Jan 2026

[SIE] 34, Variable Annuities - Features and 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 SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The function of a variable annuity death benefit and how it protects beneficiaries. - How surrender charges are structured and create illiquidity for the contract owner. - The purpose of Mortality & Expense (M&E) risk charges and other administrative fees. - How tax-deferred growth allows investments to compound without annual taxation. - The LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) method for taxing withdrawals and the 10% penalty for distributions before age 59.5. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818

Support Open Exam Prep

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support Open Exam Prep
A
We haven’t had any Tips yet :( Maybe you could be the first!
Show artwork for Open Exam Prep

About the Podcast

Open Exam Prep
Share my exam preparing learnings
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/
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Ran Chen

Ran Chen