Financial Modeler's Corner

In this episode of Financial Modeler's Corner: The ModSquad, Ian Schnoor, Paul Barnhurst, and Giles Male welcome Diarmuid Early to discuss how modern Excel features are changing financial modeling. They explore the benefits of dynamic arrays, LET and LAMBDA functions, and how these tools can make financial models more flexible, consistent, and efficient.

Diarmuid Early is the Founder of Early Days Consulting and an expert in Excel and financial modeling. He is an accomplished competitive Excel esports participant and an active contributor to the Excel community. He shares practical approaches to using dynamic arrays, LET, and LAMBDA functions to build more flexible, efficient, and reliable financial models.

Expect to Learn

• How dynamic arrays improve flexibility and consistency in financial models.
• How LET and LAMBDA functions simplify complex calculations.
• Why Power Query is useful for connecting Excel workbooks.
• How custom functions can improve model accuracy and auditability.
• When modern Excel features create compatibility and modeling challenges.

• “Lambdas can do crazy things, but you don't need them to do crazy things to be useful.” - Diarmuid Early
• “For the guts of 40 years, one Excel formula returned one result, and now one Excel formula can return many results.” - Diarmuid Early

Diarmuid explains how dynamic arrays and LAMBDA functions can reduce repetitive work and help financial modelers build more adaptable models. He also highlights their limitations, particularly when dealing with circular dependencies, complex calculations, and older Excel versions.

Follow Ian:

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

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

Follow Diarmuid:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diarmuidearly/

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Introduction

[10:44] - Modern Excel & Financial Modeling

[12:41] - Understanding Dynamic Arrays

[19:15] - Understanding LAMBDA Functions

[24:35] - Practical LAMBDA Applications

[33:16] - Benefits of Reusable Functions

[34:49] - LAMBDA Limitations & Compatibility

[38:48] - Making LAMBDA Models Easier to Audit

[43:10] - When Small Model Changes Become Big Problem

[46:21] - Resources for Learning LAMBDA

In this episode of Financial Modeler's Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Taimour Zaman to discuss why AI-generated financial models often fail to convince lenders, what investors really look for when evaluating financing opportunities, and how financial modelers can build more credible models by focusing on risk, capital protection, and realistic exit strategies.

Taimour is the Founder and Chief Capital Strategist of AltFunds Global, a financial advisory firm with offices in Canada and Switzerland. With more than 11 years of experience, he has advised operators and project sponsors on structured finance transactions ranging from $1 million to $500 million. He has developed 13 structured finance programs and built a network of more than 900 brokers.

Expect to Learn:

• Why AI-generated financial models often fail to meet lenders' expectations.
• The three critical factors investors look for: capital protection, returns, and exit strategies.
• How to approach financial modeling from a lender's perspective rather than a borrower's.
• Why geopolitical risks, currency fluctuations, and unexpected events matter in financing decisions.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “Put yourself in the lender banker's shoe. Know and understand the world is full of shocks and surprises and build me a model that protects and manages my risk.” — Taimour Zaman
• “So it's AI assisted model building rather than AI building the entire model.” — Taimour Zaman

Taimour explains that a strong financial model is not simply about projecting growth or presenting impressive numbers. It must demonstrate how investors can protect their capital, receive their expected returns, and recover their investment when things do not go according to plan.

Follow Taimour:

Website: https://altfundsglobal.com/

Substack: https://taimour1.substack.com/

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Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration that has undergone human editorial review.

[00:00] - Trailer

[06:16] - Taimour's Journey Into Structured Finance

[10:34] - Real Estate & Alternative Financing

[16:55] - Building Models From an Investor's Perspective

[19:57] - Managing Risk & Exit Strategies

[22:20] - What Lenders Look for in Financial Models

[27:17] - Real-World Financing Risks

[32:14] - The Right Role for AI in Modeling

[36:00] - Rapid Fire & Closing Advice

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Danielle Stein Fairhurst to discuss how AI is reshaping financial modeling, what modelers need to do to stay relevant, and why strategic thinking matters more than ever. Danielle also shares practical lessons from training financial modelers, working with real-world client models, and preparing for the Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM) exam.

Danielle Stein Fairhurst is the Principal Financial Modeling Specialist at Plum Solutions, a Microsoft Excel MVP, Master Financial Modeler with the Financial Modeling Institute, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and internationally recognized financial modeling trainer and speaker. She is also the author of Financial Modeling in Excel For Dummies and Using Excel for Business and Financial Modeling.

Expect to Learn:

• How AI is changing financial modeling.
• Why modelers need to keep learning and experimenting.
• How to use AI without outsourcing your thinking.
• Why real-world models differ from training examples.
• How to prepare effectively for the AFM exam.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “AI is already building financial models, and that is quite terrifying to me.” - Danielle Stein Fairhurst
• “I think it's important that we just sit down and think strategically about what we want rather than outsourcing all of your creativity and all of your thinking to AI.” - Danielle Stein Fairhurst

Danielle explains that AI can save time and help modelers go deeper with analysis, but it shouldn't replace independent thinking. She also shares why simplicity matters in real-world models and why practice and speed are essential when preparing for the AFM exam.

Follow Danielle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesteinfairhurst

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Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

[00:48] - Danielle's Background

[01:41] - Modeling Journey

[02:59] - Careers & AI

[05:58] - AI & Financial Modeling

[11:34] - AI in Everyday Work

[13:31] - Real-World Models

[17:20] - AFM Preparation

[19:09] - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Danielle Stein Fairhurst to discuss how AI is changing financial modeling, why modelers need to keep learning, and how dynamic arrays are shaping the future of Excel. Danielle also shares her thoughts on model design, AFM exam preparation, and why strategic thinking still matters in an AI-driven world.

Danielle Stein Fairhurst is the Principal Financial Modeling Specialist at Plum Solutions, a Microsoft Excel MVP, Master Financial Modeler with the Financial Modeling Institute, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and internationally recognized financial modeling trainer and speaker. She is also the author of Financial Modeling in Excel For Dummies and Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling.

Expect to Learn:

• How AI is changing financial modeling.
• Why modelers should not outsource all their thinking to AI.
• How dynamic arrays are changing Excel modeling.
• What it takes to prepare for the AFM exam.
• Why simplicity and strong model design still matter.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “AI is already building financial models, and that is quite terrifying to me.” - Danielle Stein Fairhurst
• “I think it’s important that we just sit down and think strategically about what we want, rather than outsourcing all of your creativity and all of your thinking to AI.” - Danielle Stein Fairhurst

Danielle explains that AI can now handle many technical tasks that once required significant modeling expertise. She believes modelers should embrace these tools while still relying on their own judgment, creativity, and strategic thinking.

Follow Danielle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesteinfairhurst

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LinkedIn: 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 get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration that has undergone human editorial review.

[00:00] - Trailer

[05:19] - AI and the Future of Financial Modeling

[08:30] - Financial Modeling Pet Peeves

[10:21] - Updating Courses with AI

[15:34] - Lessons From Danielle’s Pilgrimage

[18:26] - AI Building Financial Models

[27:30] - Training vs. Real-World Modeling

[31:01] - Preparing for the AFM Exam

[35:35] - Dynamic Arrays in Financial Modeling

[40:24] - Lessons From Past Models

[44:47] - Rapid Fire: Excel & Modeling

[48:41] - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Dan Mayoh to discuss his career in financial modeling, lessons from model auditing, and why he sees Excel as one of the world’s most accessible programming languages. Dan also shares how mathematical modeling, poker, and probability have shaped his approach to risk and decision-making under uncertainty.

Dan Mayoh is the Founder and CEO of Fintega Pty Ltd and a financial modeling and spreadsheet specialist with more than 15 years of experience. With a background in actuarial studies, Dan began his career in model auditing before moving into financial modeling and consulting. He also placed second in the inaugural ModelOff competition and was an early CFM holder with the Financial Modeling Institute.

Expect to Learn:

• Why Excel can be viewed as a programming language.
• What model auditing teaches you about model design.
• How Modeloff helped Dan grow as a modeler and consultant.
• How mathematical modeling helps quantify risk and uncertainty.
• Why good decisions should not be judged only by outcomes.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “Excel is really just the most accessible programming language in the world.” - Dan Mayoh
• “Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose, even when you make the right decision.” - Dan Mayoh

Dan explains that strong financial modeling goes beyond formulas and functions. Structure, navigation, error checks, usability, and designing around the end user all play an important role in creating models that are easier to understand, update, and trust.

Follow Dan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mayoh-255227/

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Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration that has undergone human editorial review.

[00:00] - Trailer

[03:40] - Dan’s Financial Modeling Journey

[06:05] - Building a Career in Financial Modeling

[12:14] - Modeling as Software Development

[15:09] - Financial Modeling Horror Stories

[19:19] - Lessons From Model Auditing

[22:03] - Competing in ModelOff

[27:39] - Mathematical Modeling of Games

[32:04] - Modeling Risk in Real-World Projects

[35:13] - Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

[40:53] - Rapid Fire: Excel & Modeling

[44:22] - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Oren Klaff, Private Equity Fund Manager and bestselling author of Pitch Anything, to discuss how financial modeling can support deal-making, investment decisions, and career growth. Oren shares how modeling helped him move from financial analyst to dealmaker.

Oren Klaff is a Private Equity Fund Manager and the author of Pitch Anything. He began his career as a financial analyst in private equity before moving into deal-making and capital raising. Financial modeling has remained central to how he evaluates businesses and structures deals.

Expect to Learn:

• How modeling can lead to deal-making and capital raising.
• Why identifying key sensitivities matters more than finding errors.
• How modelers can become trusted business partners.
• Why simple, structured models are more useful.
• How financial insight can help move deals forward.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “The shortest path to high status is finding something wrong.” - Oren Klaff
• “Your job is to make the future feel more certain.” Oren Klaff

Oren explains that strong modelers do more than build spreadsheets. They identify the assumptions that drive outcomes, communicate insights clearly, and help decision-makers find practical ways to make deals work.

Follow Oren:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orenklaff/

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Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

[04:00] - From Modeling to Deal-Making

[06:08] - Creating Business Insight

[08:38] - Finding Sensitive Assumptions

[09:38] - How Analysts Build Trust

[10:58] - Reviewing Models Without Creating Conflict

[14:41] - Structuring Better Deals

[18:23] - Real-World Deal Applications

[20:13] - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, the Mod Squad, Ian Schnoor, Giles Male, and Paul Barnhurst, speak with Peter Fuller about AI-powered financial modeling and the rapidly changing future of Excel. Peter shares how Tracelight evolved from an AI-for-Excel tool into a broader AI workspace for professionals in finance and consulting.

Peter Fuller is the Co-Founder and CEO of Tracelight, based in London, England. Before founding Tracelight in 2024, he was an early-stage venture capital investor at Entrepreneurs First and spent five years at McKinsey, including time with QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s AI practice. His background combines finance, consulting, venture capital, AI, and financial modeling.

Expect to Learn

• How Tracelight evolved from an AI-for-Excel tool.
• Why specialized AI tools can compete with larger platforms.
• How AI orchestration is changing financial modeling.
• Why enterprise AI adoption is accelerating.
• How AI could transform the role of financial modelers.

• "The needs of the top 1% of users are different from the needs of the other billion people using Excel." - Peter Fuller
• "The amount of value that you'll be able to add in the world is now just increasing exponentially." - Peter Fuller

Peter explains why he sees AI as an opportunity for financial modelers rather than simply a threat. As AI becomes more capable, he expects modelers to move beyond manually building spreadsheets and toward creating models that become a persistent part of how businesses operate.

Follow Ian:

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

Follow Giles:

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

Follow Peter:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-fuller-/

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Trailer & Introduction

[03:40] - Building AI for Excel

[07:14] - Competing With Big AI Labs

[11:27] - Tracelight's Strategy

[15:30] - Tracelight's Core Customers

[16:23] - AI Harnesses & Orchestration

[19:32] - The Future of AI Models

[22:10] - Multi-Model AI Workflows

[27:44] - Enterprise Growth & User Love

[33:32] - The Tracelight Platform

[43:03] - Excel, AI & The Future of Modeling

[47:13] - The Future of Financial Modelers

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Oren Klaff about how financial modeling can become a powerful tool for deal-making, investment decisions, and career growth. Oren explains why modelers should focus on identifying key sensitivities, communicating insights effectively, and helping buyers and sellers find ways to make deals work rather than simply pointing out flaws.

Oren Klaff is a Private Equity Fund Manager and the bestselling author of Pitch Anything. Based in Beverly Hills, California, he focuses on recruiting smart people to join his portfolio companies. Oren began his career as a financial analyst in private equity before moving into deal-making and capital raising. His experience in financial modeling has played a key role in his approach to deal-making and raising capital.

Expect to Learn:

• How financial modeling can help you transition into deal-making and capital raising.
• Why identifying sensitive assumptions is more valuable than simply finding errors.
• How analysts can avoid antagonizing other parties and instead help move deals forward.
• What makes a financial model professional, usable, and trustworthy.
• Why simplicity and structure matter when building models for business users.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• "Excel will never die. Rock and roll will never die, and Excel will never die." - Oren Klaff
• "The shortest path to high status is finding something wrong." - Oren Klaff

Oren explains that the real value of a modeler goes beyond building technically complex spreadsheets. The best modelers help decision-makers understand what matters, communicate uncertainty, and find practical ways to move a deal forward. A strong model should also be simple enough for business users to operate and robust enough to withstand scrutiny.

Join FMI’s Global Conference:

Take your financial modeling skills to the next level with FMI’s Global Financial Modeling Conference. Experience 24 hours of learning, networking, and practical insights from leading experts across the finance community.

Register today: https://fminstitute.com/conference/

Follow Oren:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orenklaff/

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Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Trailer

[05:20] - Finding Insight in the Numbers

[07:28] - Moving From Analyst to Deal Maker

[10:58] - Using Modeling Without Antagonizing the Other Side

[15:26] - Price, Terms, and Making Deals Work

[20:11] - Real-World Applications of Modeling in Deals

[23:24] - Modeling Horror Stories & What Good Models Look Like

[31:25] - Building Models That Help Raise Money

[35:20] - Storytelling With Numbers

[40:13] - Pitch Anything and the Role of Status

[43:24] - Rapid Fire: Excel, AI, Sensitivity Analysis & More

[44:53] - Final Advice for Advancing Your Modeling Career

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Marli van Staden-Basson about best-practice financial modeling, AI, model design, and the skills needed to build reliable models. Marli explains why transparency, usability, and risk management matter, and how AI makes strong modeling practices even more important.

Marli van Staden-Basson is the founder and financial modeling specialist at Near Future Limited, with over 20 years of experience in corporate and infrastructure finance. She specializes in renewable energy and digital infrastructure modeling, including complex model development and independent model audits.

Expect to Learn:

• What best-practice financial modeling really means.
• Why model design and transparency are so important.
• How AI is changing financial modeling.
• Common modeling mistakes and practices to avoid.
• How to design models around the people who use them.
• Why human review remains essential when using AI.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• "You are still the last line of defence as the human modeler." - Marli van Staden-Basson
• "A good financial model should really be doing a single thing." - Marli van Staden-Basson

AI can make modeling faster, but Marli explains why it does not replace good modeling practices. Clear design, purposeful structure, checks, and human judgement remain essential for creating models that are reliable and easy to review.

Follow Marli:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marli-van-staden-basson-7119ba28/

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Trailer

[03:29] - Building a Career in Financial Modeling

[07:18] - Breaking the Modeler Stereotype

[10:54] - Financial Modeling Horror Stories

[18:49] - Starting a Financial Modeling Consultancy

[24:28] - AI and Best-Practice Modeling

[30:26] - Why Model Design Matters

[37:07] - Tips for Building Better Models

[41:23] - Worst Modeling Practices to Avoid

[47:43] - Excel Rapid Fire

[51:05] - AI and the Future of Modeling

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Diarmuid Early about what separates great financial modelers from technically capable ones, the rise of AI in financial modeling, and why judgment remains essential. Diarmuid shares lessons from his career, his experience as a three-time World Financial Modeling Champion, and why understanding what a model actually means matters more than simply building it correctly.

Diarmuid Early is the founder of Early Days Consulting, a data analytics and financial modeling consultancy. He previously worked at Boston Consulting Group and spent nearly a decade in Deutsche Bank’s Origination and Advisory division. He holds a PhD in computer science and is a three-time World Financial Modeling Champion, Excel MVP, and Master Financial Modeler

Expect to Learn:

• Why great modelers think beyond simply building the model
• How assumptions and business understanding drive valuable financial models
• Where AI currently fits into financial modeling
• Why AI-generated models still require careful human review
• Why continuous learning remains essential for financial modelers

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “The hard part is getting everybody aligned. What are the assumptions?” - Diarmuid Early
• “There is a smart way to do it. And so if you're banging your head against it, go find the smart way.” - Diarmuid Early

AI will continue to take on more of the technical work involved in financial modeling, but speed alone does not make a model useful or reliable. Strong modelers will continue to stand out through their ability to develop credible assumptions, interpret results, exercise judgment, and understand the decisions a model is meant to support.

Follow Diarmuid:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diarmuidearly/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dimearly

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and get 15% off using the code “Podcast” at https://bit.ly/497oAqW

In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Trailer

[03:31] - Diarmuid’s Journey Into Financial Modeling

[06:00] - Financial Modeler Stereotypes

[08:20] - Career Advice for Aspiring Modelers

[12:46] - Financial Modeling Competitions

[14:59] - Consulting, Coaching, and Career Evolution

[18:25] - Meeting Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

[21:08] - AI and the Future of Financial Modeling

[25:41] - Why AI-Generated Models Still Need Review

[31:09] - Financial Modeling Standards and Best Practices

[35:19] - Diarmuid’s Most Challenging Modeling Case

[39:28] - Excel Shortcuts and Modeling Tools

[41:38] - Rapid-Fire Modeling Questions

[46:01] - Continuous Learning and Final Advice