CAS Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CAS exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📚 CAS Topics to Study (19)
✍️ Sample CAS Questions & Answers
1. In the context of annuity specialist, which principle most directly governs professional ethics & standards practices?
Applying evidence-based methodologies with peer-reviewed support is the correct approach because effective professional ethics & standards in the annuity specialist field requires adherence to professional standards, evidence-based practices, and systematic methodology. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality outcomes while maintaining professional accountability.
2. When a deferred annuity owner dies before annuitization, the 'five-year rule' for non-spouse beneficiaries requires that:
Under the five-year rule, a non-spouse beneficiary of a non-qualified deferred annuity must take the entire death benefit distribution within five years of the original owner's death.
3. A new regulation impacts taxation and regulatory considerations procedures. What should a CAS professional do first?
Ensuring compliance with current regulatory requirements and standards is the correct approach because effective taxation and regulatory considerations in the annuity specialist field requires adherence to professional standards, evidence-based practices, and systematic methodology. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality outcomes while maintaining professional accountability.
4. A stakeholder questions the value of professional ethics & standards initiatives. Which response best demonstrates ROI?
Building a culture of accountability with transparent reporting is the correct approach because effective professional ethics & standards in the autism specialist field requires adherence to professional standards, evidence-based practices, and systematic methodology. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality outcomes while maintaining professional accountability.
5. Which strategy involves purchasing an immediate annuity with a portion of retirement savings to cover essential expenses while investing the rest?
An income flooring strategy uses an immediate annuity to cover essential, non-discretionary expenses (the 'floor'), while the remaining assets are invested for growth and discretionary spending.
6. During a professional ethics & standards audit, which documentation is most critical to have readily available?
Conducting root cause analysis to identify underlying systemic issues is the correct approach because effective professional ethics & standards in the autism specialist field requires adherence to professional standards, evidence-based practices, and systematic methodology. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality outcomes while maintaining professional accountability.