Hi folks, Just looking to get some info about different options to improve my financial modeling skills. I wrote level 1 in June like most people here and am about to enter my second year of an MBA program. After writing the exam in June, I had a couple interviews for summer jobs that I felt went well but didn’t turn out because they said my modeling skills weren’t what they wanted. What’s a good way to improve financial modeling skills? I’ve seen in some posts about Wall Street Prep…is this the best way to go? Are people just using the ‘Basic’ package? If anyone wants to point me to any other threads already discussing this topic that would be appreciated! Thx, akf1
Hi afk1, I’m doing the advanced package. I finished the basic package a couple of weeks ago. If you’re new to modeling, I think the basic package is very useful. It covers how to create an earnings forecast model from scratch based off of a company’s 10k. It goes into good detail and shows you step by step. This book is about 170 pages. The advanced package is a thicker book that’s about 350 pages in length. It teaches LBO, DCF, comparable company, and comparable transaction modeling. This stuff is definitely a little over my head, but I’m just plugging away. You can get a 15% discount either way if you use referral code REF11033.
afk1, I will be writing Level I in December and picked up Beninga’s book. It is pretty good as long as you have an understandign of the concepts covered. Pretty much a step by step approach starting with some very basic finance topics and progressing into more exotic topics(or atleast what I feel are exotic at this point). Check out Amazon.com if you are interested. The third edition is what I got and it comes with a CD that has the models pre-built, although it is more beneficial to build them yourself in most cases.
I agree with brianr. I just took CFA L1 in June and was looking to fill my free time and Benninga’s book has been really cool. I had kind of hit a wall anyways as far as excel goes and was looking to get a grip on both financial modeling and some basics about the VBA code to make that process easier.
Hey guys, Thanks for the info. I think I will ultimately order the Wall Street Prep course as well eventually, but I just started now by ordering the 3rd edition of the Benninga book off Amazon (after finding a save $10 at Amazon coupon online 
). I’ll give it a read, see what it’s all about and if I feel like I want more when I’m done of that, then I’ll order WSP as well. Results in a week, crazy! AKF1