Blog
Do You Know Your SaaS Net Magic Number? Here's Why It Matters
My Halloween costume this year.Revenue growth is always the fancy, headline-grabbing number.But not everyone stops to ask: Was that growth... more »
I only use 3 “advanced” Excel formulas (less than 200 words)
Every meeting I ever attended.I’m pretty good at Excel.But here’s the truth:I only use three advanced Excel formulas on a regular... more »
Forget AI. Here's The Best Way to Learn Financial Modeling
Building Financial Models from ScratchI feel like we forget this a lot...Despite how much everyone is in love with AI these days, it can’t actually... more »
GRR vs NRR in SaaS Business Modeling
SaaS Modeling: GRR vs NRRToday we're going to dive into the world of SaaS Metrics, and start off with something relatively simple:Gross Revenue... more »
SaaS Contracts in Financial Modeling
Modeling SaaS ContractsThe layout I use for modeling SaaS contracts. It's a lot of columns, for sure, but the idea is you can make all the changes you... more »
See the Layout of a SaaS Model
The layout of the SaaS Model I'm working on.SaaS Model: Stop Me If You've Seen ThisBuilding on previous posts, in the next several issues I'm... more »
There's No Such Thing as a SaaS Model
SaaS Modeling: one of the many puzzles of the financial modeling world.There's No Such Thing as a "SaaS Model"You may not know this about... more »
Three Statement Model: If I Could Go Back and Change 1 Thing
If I Could Go Back and Change One Thing...Three Statement Model: I'm not going to bury the lead here.If I could go back and learn one thing, it... more »
Modeling a Debt Schedule (that actually works)
I Owe You OneI'm not going to sugarcoat it... modeling the debt schedule is intimidating.In fact, even as a financial modeling instructor, I often... more »
FYI: Your Boss Doesn’t Care Which Excel Function You Use
=IF( Business Acumen < Excel Skills...This image should be in reverse.After seeing yet another "XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP" battle on LinkedIn, posts... more »
Financial Modeling Tech Stack for Excel
Financial Modeling Tech Stack"Uh huh."While I've said publicly that I use the mouse, you can't operate that way forever.You need some sweet... more »
The 33-Hour Day That Changed How I Build Models
How I Build Models — The Year Was...I didn't look as handsome at 2am.It was early 2010. I was a green Consultant in the wake of the Financial... more »
Fitting a Private Equity Transaction on 1 Page
A Private Equity DashboardA typical output from an LBO model, explaining all the key points about the transaction.I share this image a lot online... more »
9 Financial Modeling Tips I Wish I Had When I First Started
9 Financial Modeling Tips I Wish I Had When I First Started9 Financial Modeling Tips I Wish I Had When I First StartedFinancial modeling tips: I've... more »
Stacked Bar Chart to Visualize Working Capital
Net Working Capital 101If you work in Finance, most likely you’re familiar with the definition of Net Working Capital (NWC):NWC = Current Assets -... more »
Modeling a Private Equity Returns Waterfall
Modeling a Returns WaterfallOne of the most complicated parts of your model is also one of the most important: modeling... more »
How I Update Actuals in the Model
IntroA look into my past.When it comes to updating the financials in your model each month, it should only take a few minutes.There might be other support... more »
Confession: I Never Did This…
Confession: I Never Actually Worked in FP&AI post on LinkedIn all the time about FP&A and building operating models for FP&A teams.Yet, I've... more »
7 Excel Tricks Everyone Wishes They Learned Sooner…
7 Excel Tricks Everyone Wishes They Learned SoonerExcel tricks: Let’s switch things up today and talk about the tool we all spend countless hours... more »
Financial Models: I Put This Mistake in Every One…
Sometimes we get so caught up in the perfection of our Financial Models that we lose sight of their actual purpose: helping us make decisions (aka... more »
The No. 1 Error I See with Three Statement Models
Three Statement Models: The No. 1 Error I See... I’ve been building models for a long time. Lot of late nights. Tight deadlines. Gray hair.... more »
Are Financial Modeling Courses Worth It?
Are Financial Modeling courses worth it? Despite all the amazing advances in technology, we still can't predict the future, so being able to create... more »
How to Model an Earnout
What’s an “Earnout”? Earnouts help bridge a valuation gap between buyer and seller. For example: Buyer: “We think the business is worth... more »
What “Data Storytelling” Really Means
What is “Data Storytelling”? I know I’m getting older and grumpier, because when I hear the term “data storytelling” I... more »
DCF vs LBO Models: Understanding the Key Differences
DCF vs LBO Models Ever been up all night wondering what the differences are between DCF and LBO models? Me neither. Nonetheless, these two... more »