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

Ian Bennett is a Partner at PwC, leading Deals Modeling in Australia and globally. With over 25 years of experience, Ian has built and reviewed complex models for transactions, infrastructure, finance transformations, and BAU forecasting across Australia and the UK. Ian is a founding member of the Financial Modeling Institute's (FMI) Advisory Council and a member of FMI's Financial Modeling Global Leaders Council. He is also the lead author of PwC’s Global Financial Modeling Guidelines.

Expect to Learn

• How AI tools like Claude are reshaping the financial modeling process.

• The crucial role of human oversight and strong modeling skills, even with advanced AI.

• Why AI in financial modeling is seen as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement.

• How the role of financial modelers is evolving in the age of AI and automation.

• What the future holds for Excel, and how AI integration is transforming it.

Brian Jones is the  Vice-President: Microsoft Excel, Forms. He has worked at Microsoft since 1999 across several productivity platforms, including Word, Office Forms, and developer extensibility tools. In his current role, Brian leads the Excel product team as they integrate AI capabilities like Copilot and agent mode to expand what users can accomplish inside spreadsheets.

Expect to Learn

• How AI and Copilot are changing the Excel user experience

• What “agent mode” means for automating spreadsheet tasks

• How AI can help analyse and improve financial models

• Why Excel still requires strong modeling and formula knowledge

• How skill sheets and templates can guide AI inside workbooks

Amber Johnson is a fractional industrial engineer and the founder of Peachy Profitability, where she helps teams work smarter through process improvement, data storytelling, and automation. She began her career as a “beer psychic,” forecasting demand at Anheuser-Busch, and has since built logistics networks, optimized warehouse flows, and guided businesses through transformational change. Amber is also the creator of Office Hours with Amber, a weekly livestream that encourages continuous improvement with curiosity and confidence.

Expect to Learn

• How logistics forecasting connects to financial forecasting

• Why forecast accuracy and bias matter in decision-making

• How operational drivers influence financial results

• Ways finance, sales, and logistics teams can align better

• How Excel and data analysis support forecasting and planning

Nick is a financial modeler and the co-founder of Boberg Advisory, a consultancy that specializes in providing financial modeling services to SMEs. With extensive experience as Finance Director at Anglesea Hospital and Associate Director at PwC, Nick has built and reviewed hundreds of models, many focused on cash flow forecasting, budgeting, and management reporting. He is also an accomplished competitor in the Financial Modeling World Cup and the Microsoft Excel World Championships, where he has achieved finalist and semifinalist placements.

Expect to Learn

• Why structure and consistency are key in financial modeling

• The role of simplicity in building models

• Insights from Nick’s competitive modeling career

• How to balance technical expertise with user-friendly design

Ian Schnoor is Executive Director of the Financial Modeling Institute (FMI), the global accreditation body for financial modeling professionals. He brings extensive experience in modeling, training, and industry standards. Giles Male is Co-Founder of Full Stack modeller and a two-time Microsoft MVP. He specializes in Excel, financial modeling systems, and practical AI implementation.

Expect to Learn

• How Claude 4.6 performs on real financial modeling accreditation cases

• Where AI tools still make subtle but significant modeling errors

• The difference between automation and augmentation in AI usage

• Why strong modeling fundamentals remain essential

• Practical ways to begin integrating AI into your modeling workflow

Chris Reilly is a former private equity professional and financial modeling expert with experience spanning restructuring, FP&A, treasury, and middle market private equity. He began his career at FTI Consulting during the financial crisis, working on major bankruptcies, including Lehman Brothers, before moving to Hilton Worldwide and later into private equity. Chris is the founder of Financial Modeling Education, where he has trained more than 90,000 professionals worldwide, teaching real-life models used to acquire and manage private equity-backed businesses.

Expect to Learn

• Why financial modeling fundamentals matter more than ever in an AI-driven world

• How Chris actually uses AI in real client models versus online hype

• Why simple, well-built models outperform overly complex ones

• How to balance technical modeling skills with business decision-making

Luke Phillips is a chartered financial modeler and the Senior Business Analyst at Access Analytic. He works with clients across mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and professional services to streamline budgeting and reporting through Solver and Excel. Luke holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he also played Division I basketball.

Expect to Learn

• How a bad college project helped kickstart Luke’s modeling career

• What Solver is and how it supports complex planning and reporting

• Tips for simplifying models without losing value

• The role of communication in building useful models

• Luke’s take on AI and dynamic arrays in Excel

Karishma is a Certified Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM) and FMVA® professional, currently working as a Financial Modeler Associate at Hawkins Eberdal Ltd in Mauritius. With a strong foundation in both project and corporate finance, Karishma specializes in building decision-ready financial models that support capital raising, risk evaluation, and business growth.

Expect to Learn

• Why using someone else’s model as a template can be risky

• The importance of understanding and communicating key assumptions

• How to tailor models for investors and third-party users

• What it’s like to fail, and then pass, the AFM exam

• The value of applying both corporate and project finance in modelling

Tim Jacks is the founder of Taglo, a company dedicated to improving financial modeling with AI technology. His career journey spans financial consulting and software development, including building financial modeling tools. Over time, Tim's interest in artificial intelligence grew, and he delved into how AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), could be used to enhance financial modeling processes.

Expect to Learn

• How AI is revolutionizing financial modeling and the specific ways it’s being used today.

• The technical components behind AI agents and how they differ from simple chatbots.

• The importance of context and system prompts when working with LLMs in financial tasks.

• Insights into the memory limitations of LLMs and how agents work around this challenge.