Financial Modeler's Corner

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst (aka The FP&A Guy) is joined by guest Mark Proctor. Together, they discuss the intricacies of financial modeling and data analysis, with a focus on building efficient models and leveraging automation in Excel. Mark shares his deep expertise on why structure is key, how to automate tedious tasks, and how Excel continues to evolve to meet the demands of modern financial professionals.

Mark Proctor is a seasoned financial professional with a background in accounting and finance, an Excel MVP, and the founder of Excel Off The Grid, a platform dedicated to improving efficiency and effectiveness in Excel. With decades of experience, Mark's insights are invaluable for anyone looking to optimize their use of Excel for financial modeling and beyond. He has helped countless professionals streamline their work through better data structure and automation techniques.

Expect to Learn
Financial modeling vs. data analysis
Automation in Excel with Power Query & Pivot
Why VLOOKUP is outdated and modern alternatives
Building flexible, stakeholder-friendly models
Reducing manual and repetitive Excel tasks

Here are a few quotes from Mark Proctor:
"Hard-coding is the enemy of a flexible financial model. Once you start hard-coding, you lose the ability to see what's really driving the model." - Mark Proctor
"One of the key takeaways from bad models is that manual adjustments should always be documented and trackable." - Mark Proctor

As Excel continues to evolve with powerful features like dynamic arrays and advanced automation, the tools discussed in this episode are essential for anyone looking to keep pace with the future of financial modeling. Mark’s emphasis on mastering the basics and thinking structurally will help you work faster and more effectively.

Follow Mark:
Website - https://exceloffthegrid.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markstephenproctor/

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LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
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Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code “Podcast”

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:
[00:00] - Trailer
[01:54] - Financial Modeling Horror Stories
[04:55] - Lessons from Bad Models
[06:28] - Mark's Career Journey and Background
[12:59] - Data Analysis vs. Financial Modeling
[19:17] - Excel as a Data Analysis Tool: Key Innovations
[22:55] - Automation in Excel and Practical Tips
[33:59] - The Importance of Mastering Excel Basics
[44:19] - Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks

Paul Barnhurst speaks with Matan Feldman, Founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep. Matan shares his insights from his career in investment banking and financial modeling, discussing how AI is transforming the investment banking landscape, its impact on financial modeling, and the future of financial modeling education. He reflects on his journey founding Wall Street Prep and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Matan Feldman is the Founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, where he leads business development, course creation, and training programs for clients such as Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, The Wharton School, and many others. Before founding Wall Street Prep, Matan worked at Chase Manhattan Bank and J.P. Morgan in investment banking and equity research.

Expect to Learn:
How AI is changing financial modeling and banking workflows
The evolving role of financial modelers in an AI-driven world
How AI speeds up repetitive tasks, letting analysts focus on higher-level judgment
Why are core financial modeling skills still essential despite AI advancements?

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"AI is already helping junior analysts by taking over repetitive tasks, but we're just scratching the surface."
"AI has the potential to completely reshape how investment banks operate, but it's still in its early stages."

Matan Feldman highlights how AI is revolutionizing investment banking and financial modeling, improving efficiency and allowing analysts to focus on higher-level tasks. While AI tools are reshaping workflows, Matan stresses that core financial modeling skills and human judgment remain essential in this evolving industry.

Follow Matan:
Website: https://www.wallstreetprep.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matanfeldman/

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast”

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:
[05:55] – AI in Banking
[07:00] – AI’s Banking Impact
[10:00] – Future of Modeling
[12:00] – Role of Modelers
[14:00] – AI’s Opportunities
[15:00] – AI in Advisory
[17:00] – Banking’s Future with AI
[19:00] – Analyst’s Future
[20:00] – AI’s Effect on Banking
[22:00] – AI and Careers

Paul Barnhurst speaks with Matan Feldman, Founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep. Matan shares insights from his career in investment banking and financial modeling, discussing the future of AI in the industry, its impact on investment banking roles, and how it will reshape financial modeling education. He also reflects on his journey founding Wall Street Prep and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Matan Feldman is the Founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, where he leads business development, course creation, and training programs for clients such as Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, The Wharton School, and many others. Before founding Wall Street Prep, Matan worked at Chase Manhattan Bank and J.P.Morgan in investment banking and equity research.

Expect to Learn
How AI is transforming financial modeling and investment banking workflows.
The evolving role of financial modelers in an AI-driven world.
How AI accelerates repetitive tasks, enabling analysts to focus on higher-level judgment.
Why foundational financial modeling skills remain crucial despite AI advancements.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"A model can either be the most powerful tool or the most frustrating one." – Matan Feldman
"Judgment and interpretation will always remain important." – Matan Feldman

Matan Feldman shared valuable insights into the evolving role of AI in financial modeling and investment banking. He emphasized the growing importance of business judgment and foundational skills as AI tools continue to reshape the industry. Matan's journey from investment banking to founding Wall Street Prep highlights the ongoing need for both technical expertise and strategic thinking in financial modeling

Follow Matan:
Website: https://www.wallstreetprep.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matanfeldman/

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast”

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:
[00:00] – Introduction
[02:27] – Matan’s Modeling Nightmare
[05:07] – The Journey of Wall Street Prep
[08:21] – AI in Investment Banking
[14:06] – The Future of Modeling and Automation
[22:16] – Opportunities and Concerns in AI
[29:48] – AI’s Role in Teaching Financial Modeling
[36:02] – Rapid Fire Questions

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Shreya Bhatt about her journey in financial modeling and her experience working across infrastructure and project finance. Shreya shares real challenges she has faced, including rebuilding poorly structured models, and explains what makes a model reliable and easy to use. The conversation also covers modeling standards, practical use cases, and how financial models support real-world decisions.

Shreya Bhatt is a Manager at CrossBoundary Group with over eight years of experience in financial modeling and infrastructure finance. She works on project finance, portfolio modeling, and investment analysis, supporting decision-making across sectors like renewable energy and infrastructure.

Expect to Learn
What makes a financial model reliable and easy to use
Common mistakes that make models difficult to work with
How project finance models connect to real-world decisions
When to use different modeling standards like FAST and SMART
How AI fits into financial modeling today

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
A model can either be the most powerful tool or the most frustrating one.” – Shreya Bhatt
“AI can help us, but judgment and interpretation will always remain important.” – Shreya Bhatt

Shreya explains that strong financial models are built with clarity, structure, and consistency. She highlights that while tools and technologies like AI can speed up parts of the process, the real value comes from understanding the business, making sound assumptions, and delivering insights that support decision-making.

Follow Sherya:
Gmail: [email protected]
Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/-shreyabhatt-

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:
LinkedIn Page- https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast’.

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:
[00:00] – Introduction
[02:48] – Worst Modeling Experience
[05:44] – Role at CrossBoundary
[07:35] – Favourite Model Types
[11:14] – Portfolio & Solar Models
[14:06] – FAST Certification Journey
[16:15] – FAST vs SMART Standards
[19:56] – Modeling Best Practices
[23:36] – AI in Financial Modeling
[28:52] – Career Lessons
[33:04] – Rapid Fire Insights
[36:56] – Final Advice

In this episode of The Mod Squad, Paul Barnhurst, Ian Schnoor, and Giles Male share their real experiences using AI in financial modelling. They cut through the hype and discuss what AI actually does well, where it still struggles, and how professionals should be thinking about using it today. From building models to handling workflows, the conversation highlights both the value and the limitations of AI tools in real work.

Expect to Learn
Where AI actually helps in finance and modelling work
Why most “one-click solution” claims are unrealistic
The importance of checking and guiding AI outputs
How instructions and structure improve AI results

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“It’s not a one-click solution. You still have to check everything.” – Giles Male
“You will have to understand every line to guide AI properly.” – Ian Schnoor

AI is powerful, but it’s not a shortcut to good work. It still needs guidance, structure, and strong fundamentals. The people who benefit most will be the ones who understand both the tools and the work behind them. For now, the best approach is simple: use it, test it, and don’t trust it blindly.

Follow Ian:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianschnoor/

Follow Giles:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giles-male-30643b15/

In today’s episode:
[02:06] – Current thoughts on AI after recent progress
[03:45] – Daily use of AI and time savings
[05:00] – Mental fatigue and keeping up with AI changes
[08:03] – Calling out AI hype and unrealistic claims
[12:30] – AI training challenges and business demand
[17:57] – “Eye of the storm” phase of AI development
[24:13] – Testing AI-built financial models
[30:52] – Why fixing AI models can take longer than building from scratch
[35:15] – Responsibility to challenge misleading AI claims
[38:41] – Using instructions to improve AI output
[42:59] – Final thoughts on AI, stress, and the future