Blog
How I Update Actuals in the Model
When it comes to updating the financials in your model each month, it should only take a few minutes. There might be other support schedules, KPIs, or... more »
Confession: I Never Did This…
I post on LinkedIn all the time about FP&A and building operating models for FP&A teams. Yet, I've never actually worked in... more »
7 Excel Tricks Everyone Wishes They Learned Sooner…
Excel tricks: Let’s switch things up today and talk about the tool we all spend countless hours in: Excel. We all have our favorite tips and tricks,... 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
I’ve been building models for a long time. Lot of late nights. Tight deadlines. Gray hair. Throughout that time, there is one error that continually... more »
How to Model an Earnout
Earnouts help bridge a valuation gap between buyer and seller. For example: Buyer: “We think the business is worth [$X million].” Seller:... more »
What “Data Storytelling” Really Means
I know I’m getting older and grumpier, because when I hear the term “data storytelling” I immediately roll my eyes. What do you mean,... more »
DCF vs LBO Models: Understanding the Key Differences
Ever been up all night wondering what the differences are between DCF and LBO models? Me neither. Nonetheless, these two cornerstone valuation... more »
7 Lessons Learned Building Hundreds of Financial Models
I’ve built hundreds of Financial Models over the years, and frankly don’t even want to know how many hours I’ve spent doing so.... more »
Sometimes the Model Needs to be Complicated
I commonly preach simplicity when it comes to Financial Modeling. Afterall, most financial models are completely bloated with stuff you... more »
7 M&A Concepts You Must Know if You Work in FP&A
…that FP&A and Private Equity are deeply intertwined? This post is no exception. Reminder, the ethos of all my writing: Belief 1: You can’t... more »
3 Things to Make You a Good Modeler (Excel is last)
Like any Finance pro, I love Excel (who doesn’t?). But being good at Excel is just one small piece of being a good modeler, and I’d argue... more »
Take the Headache out of Building the Sources and Uses.
Straightforward in concept, but oddly tricky to model, the Sources and Uses is a critical part of M&A modeling that you need to understand.... more »
Doomsday Cash Runway (with template)
Big night out with the buddies. One too many sodas. Your alarm goes off. It’s 6am. Time to get ready for work. Fun fact: your roommates used... more »
It’s Time We Simplified Cash Flow Modeling
Cash Flow Modeling: one of the more cryptic and misunderstood concepts in Financial Modeling. It’s time to simplify this whole exercise, once and... more »
What is the best practice for financial modeling in excel
What is the best practice for financial modeling in excel? "Financial modeling sits at the core of the finance industry, providing insights into future... more »
A Simple Guide to ROI and IRR (and why you need both)
When evaluating an investment, especially in the Private Equity setting, two terms are often thrown around: What are they, and why do we need both?... more »
My Story of Working on the Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy
Most of my posts are "how to" based. After all, my goal is to help you become a better Financial Modeler. This week I thought I'd mix it up and tell a... more »
Understanding SDE vs Adjusted EBITDA
SDE vs Adjusted EBITDA, what exactly is the difference? When assessing the financials of a company, two terms often surface in the realm of valuation and... more »
Two Modeling Approaches to Working Capital
Let’s get “into the weeds” a bit this week and talk through a critical skill for financial modeling: how to model the Working Capital.... more »
The Art of 'Good Enough': Balancing Perfection and Practicality in Financial Modeling
In the meticulous world of financial modeling, the quest for perfection is a common pursuit. As financial professionals, we often find ourselves... more »
PayPod: Building Better Financial Models with Chris Reilly
In this engaging conversation, Chris Reilly, founder of Mission Capital Consulting and Financial Modeling Education, joins the PayPod podcast to discuss... more »
The First 100 Days After Close
I talk a lot in this email series about how to build certain elements of financial models. But what we don't talk about as much is when this stuff... more »
The Matching Principle Visualized in Excel...
In the world of financial accounting, the Matching Principle stands as a cornerstone, ensuring that companies accurately report their financial health.... more »
Building a Cohort Analysis in Excel
Cohort analysis is a powerful tool used in business analytics to understand the behavior of specific groups over time. These groups, or "cohorts," usually... more »