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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Dr. Eric Kelley is a finance professor at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business, where he teaches finance at the undergraduate, MBA, and PhD levels. He is a Microsoft Excel MVP and faculty fellow with the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge. Eric focuses on developing integrated financial modeling education, helping students build scalable models through innovative techniques and competitive Excel-based learning.

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

In this episode of The Mod Squad, Paul Barnhurst, Ian Schnoor, and Giles Male put today's leading AI tools to the test in a live financial modeling "bake-off." Using the same modeling case and prompts, they compare ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot to see how well each tool builds a financial model. The discussion highlights the progress AI has made, where it still falls short, and why financial modeling expertise remains essential.

Expect to Learn:

• How ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot perform on the same financial modeling task

• The strengths and weaknesses of AI-generated financial models

• Why AI-generated models still require careful review and testing

• How custom instructions and skills can improve AI outputs

• Why financial modeling knowledge is still critical in an AI-driven world

Jorge Rojas is a finance professor, consultant, CFA Charterholder, and Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM) with a PhD in Finance from Tulane University, where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor. He has taught finance across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, and is the author of several books on corporate finance, risk management, and financial modeling

Expect to Learn:

• How satellite data can improve financial forecasting

• Why Monte Carlo simulation is useful for decision-making

• Practical applications of spatial finance

• Tips for building reliable financial models

• Advice for developing your financial modeling skills

John Yeldham has 20 years of experience leading and training financial modeling teams in project and corporate finance, supporting deals and valuations for global funds, energy, and infrastructure, as well as smaller businesses. He created and refined modeling methodologies at BDO UK, Forvis Mazars, and for Lodeum, a global financial modeling training platform launching in 2026.

Expect to Learn:

• Models build trust, not just numbers

• Connect finance with operations for better decisions

• AI is a helpful junior analyst, but human judgment matters

• Scenario analysis and storytelling are essential in models

Ilyas Anis is Finance Lead at Turning Point Brands Canada and Founder of IMnS Associates. He has 15+ years of experience in financial modeling, valuation, and governance across multiple industries. An FCA, CPA, AFM, and FMVA®, he is also a board advisor and AI enthusiast.

Expect to Learn

• Models build trust, not just numbers

• Connect finance with operations for better decisions

• AI is a helpful junior analyst, but human judgment matters

• Scenario analysis and storytelling are essential in models

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.

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

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

Rafael Le Saux is a valuation and modeling expert with over 16 years of experience in financial advisory and alternative investments. He leads Valuation and Modeling Services at PwC Luxembourg, working across multiple asset classes. He has also worked at Partners Group and across global markets, including France, Australia, and Chile. Alongside his professional work, he teaches, speaks at industry events, and supports the valuation community.

Expect to Learn

• Why a strong model structure is critical in real-world projects

• The impact of evergreen and semi-liquid funds on valuation risk

• Why regulators are increasing scrutiny on valuation practices

• How AI is helping improve workflows but not replacing human judgment

• How to bridge the gap between auditors and investment teams

Riley Edwards is a Financial Planning professional at IG Private Wealth Management, working with Fox-Revett Heslegrave & Associates. He is an Adrian College alumnus and is currently building his career in the financial planning industry. Based in Schomberg, Ontario, Canada, he focuses on helping clients understand their finances and make better decisions through clear analysis.

Expect to Learn

• What early mistakes in financial modeling look like and how to fix them

• Why understanding the basics is more important than just building models

• How financial modeling improves confidence in professional settings

• Why presentation skills matter just as much as technical skills

• How modeling helps handle difficult client conversations