Financial Modeler's Corner is a podcast where we talk all about the art and science of financial modeling with distinguished Financial Modeler's from around the globe. Financial Modeler's Corner is hosted by Paul Barnhurst, aka The FP&A Guy, a global thought leader in the field of finance.
The Financial Modeler's Corner podcast is brought to you by Financial Modeling Institute. FMI offers the most respected accreditations in financial modeling.
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Financial Modeling, Deal Making, and the Skills Every Analyst Needs with Oren Klaff
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 • Duration 20:38
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.
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:
[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
Building AI for the Top 1% of Excel Users with Peter Fuller
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 50:12
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.
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"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.
Pitch Anything's Oren Klaff: From Spreadsheet to Deal Table
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 49:05
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.
Why AI Makes Financial Modeling Best Practices More Important with Marli van Staden-Basson
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 53:16
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.
What Separates an Excellent Financial Modeler From a Technically Good One with Diarmuid Early
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 49:31
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:
Can Financial Modelers Trust AI to Build Reliable Models? with Ryan Humphrey
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 • Duration 22:54
In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Ryan Humphrey about financial model auditing, the skills strong modelers need, and how AI is changing the profession. Ryan explains why communication, judgment, and independence matter alongside technical ability. He also shares how model audits work, why poorly structured models create risks, and how AI could shift financial modelers from building models toward reviewing and refining them.
Ryan Humphrey is a Partner at Forvis Mazars in London, specializing in financial model audits, including accounting and tax reviews. A qualified chartered accountant, he contributed to How to Review a Spreadsheet and co-authored Credible Model Audit for the AI Era. He is also conducting research with Cambridge University in sustainability leadership and is an advocate for the energy transition.
Expect to Learn:
Why communication is essential in financial modeling
How independent financial model audits support major investment decisions
Why human judgment remains critical as AI improves
How AI could shift financial modelers from building to reviewing
Why continuous learning is increasingly important in the AI era
Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“The model really is... a communication vector more than anything. It's about telling a story.” - Ryan Humphrey
“What cannot be replaced is judgement.” - Ryan Humphrey
AI is becoming increasingly capable of understanding and building spreadsheets, but credible-looking outputs can still contain errors. As AI takes on more of the technical building process, financial modelers will need to focus even more on judgment, review, communication, and understanding what a model is designed to accomplish.
Follow Ryan:
AI Can Build the Model, But Can You Trust It? with Ryan Humphrey
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 • Duration 49:55
In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Ryan Humphrey about financial model auditing, the skills strong modelers need, and how AI is changing the profession. Ryan explains why communication, judgment, and trust matter as much as technical ability. He also shares how model audits work, why poorly structured models create serious risks, and why finance professionals must continue developing their skills as AI takes on more of the building process.
Ryan Humphrey is a Partner at Forvis Mazars in London, specializing in accounting, tax reviews, and financial model audits. A qualified chartered accountant, he co-authored Credible Model Audit for the AI Era and is currently researching sustainability leadership with Cambridge University.
Expect to Learn:
Why communication is essential in financial modeling
How independent model audits support better decisions
Why human judgement remains critical in the AI era
How AI may shift modelers from building to reviewing
Why trust and continuous learning are becoming more valuable
Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"The model really is a communication vector more than anything. It is about telling a story." - Ryan Humphrey
"Trust becomes so important because things can look right very quickly, even when they are not." - Ryan Humphrey
AI may make financial models faster to build, but it also makes careful review more important. The future belongs to professionals who can combine technical knowledge with judgement, communication, and trusted decision-making.
AI vs. Financial Modeling World Champion: Who Wins, and What Can We Learn from It
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 54:21
In this episode of The ModSquad, Paul Barnhurst, Giles Male, and Ian Schnoor are joined by Excel and Financial Modeling World Champions Michael Jarman and Diarmuid Early to discuss a unique “man versus machine” financial modeling challenge.
The group breaks down their experience testing AI against expert modelers using real financial modeling and Excel competition cases. They explore where AI performs well, where human judgment still matters, and what the future of financial modeling may look like as AI tools continue to improve.
Expect to Learn
How AI compares against expert financial modelers in real-world challenges
Where AI adds value and where human judgment remains essential
Why reviewing and validating AI-generated models is becoming more important
How AI tools are changing the future role of financial modelers
Why strong modeling fundamentals still matter in an AI-driven world
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“AI can build something quick, but if you want it to be right, often the majority of the time is in checking it.” - Michael Jarman
“The most interesting question is how do you get from something that works to something you actually feel confident in.” - Diarmuid Early
AI is changing the way financial models are built, reviewed, and improved. While AI can increase speed and efficiency, the best results still come from professionals who understand modeling principles, question outputs, and apply human judgement. The future belongs to modelers who can combine technology with expertise.
Can Competition Make You Better at Finance? with Eric Kelley
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 19:21
In this episode of Financial Modelers Corner, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Dr. Eric Kelley, Finance Professor | Microsoft MVP (Excel), and one of the leading educators in financial modeling. Eric shares how his passion for teaching, mathematics, and financial markets led him into academia, and why developing scalable financial models starts with understanding the business before opening Excel.
Dr. Eric Kelley is a Professor of Finance at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business, a Microsoft Excel MVP, and Faculty Fellow with the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC). He coaches the University of Tennessee's Excel eSports team, which won the 2024 MECC World Championship, and is passionate about using financial modeling and Excel eSports to prepare students for finance careers.
Expect to Learn:
Why communication matters as much as modeling skills.
Building scalable financial models that last.
Common financial modeling mistakes to avoid.
How Excel eSports sharpens problem-solving.
Why competition improves modeling skills.
Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"Great financial modelers need strong oral communication skills because they must explain the story behind the model, not just build it." - Dr. Eric Kelley
"You're not trying to solve a single problem, you're trying to build a system that can take flexible inputs and generate useful outputs." - Dr. Eric Kelley
Eric Kelley shares why financial modelers need more than technical skills, highlighting the importance of communication, problem-solving, and building scalable models. He also discusses how Excel eSports and hands-on learning are helping students develop real-world modeling skills for future finance careers.
[00:00] - Introduction & Dr. Eric Kelley[02:10] - Eric’s Finance Journey[03:17] - The Top Modeling Skill[04:40] - Understanding Your Model[05:33] - Common Modeling Mistakes[08:03] - Excel eSports Explained[10:31] - Performing Under Pressure[11:51] - Coaching Excel Champions[14:22] - Excel eSports in Modeling[17:13] - Teaching with FMI Cases[18:57] - The Future of Financial Modeling
The Human Financial Modeler: AI insights from 60+ global experts
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 47:08
In this episode of Financial Modeler's Corner, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Ian Schnoor, Executive Director of the Financial Modeling Institute. They discuss the future of financial modeling in the age of AI, with a focus on how modelers are using AI today, where human judgment still matters, and what governance, ethics, and skill development look like going forward.
Expect to Learn:
Why communication skills are critical for financial modelers
How to build models as flexible systems instead of one-time solutions
How Excel Esports helps students develop real-world modeling skills
How competitions can improve financial modeling education
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"86% of the council members are using AI for modeling tasks" – Ian Schnoor
"The shift, there will be a shift, of course, from construction to judgement" – Ian Schnoor
Ian Schnoor shares why AI should enhance, not replace, human expertise in financial modeling, emphasizing judgment, governance, and strong foundational skills. He also offers practical career advice for aspiring modelers and highlights why mastering the fundamentals remains essential in an AI-driven future.
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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
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.
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
Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.
Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.
Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.
