What is Excel Solver? Excel Solver is an optimization tool that can be used to determine how the desired outcome can be achieved by changing the assumptions in a model. It is a type of what-if analysis and is particularly useful when trying to determine the “best” outcome, given a set of more than two…
Why Merge Cells in Excel? The most common reason to merge cells is for formatting and centering headings. This guide will show you how to merge cells in Excel, even though it is highly recommended that you don’t merge them unless you absolutely need to. As an alternative, we recommend using the Center Across Selection…
What are the Best Financial Modeling Books? The best way to learn financial modeling is through practice. But how can you practice if you don’t know where to start? Many people start with video-based training (which we offer extensively), while others still prefer good old-fashioned books. For anyone who prefers to learn by reading and…
What is an Excel Drop Down List? An Excel drop down list is a data validation function that allows users to select an option from a list of choices. It can be particularly useful in performing financial modeling and analysis by incorporating scenarios and making a spreadsheet more dynamic. Learn to build dropdowns into models…
What are Error Bars in Excel? Error bars in Excel are graphical representations of data variability. They show the precision of a measurement. The bars usually represent standard deviation and standard error. They indicate how far from the determined value the true value is. Error bars on charts provide a more comprehensive view of the…
VBA If Else statements Building a VBA If Else statement is quite similar to building a nested if formula inside Excel. The benefit of using VBA instead is that it’s much easier to follow, since nested IFs tend to complicate with multiple parenthesis enclosures. In a VBA if statement, each IF clause is separate from…
Dynamic Financial Analysis This guide will teach you how to perform dynamic financial analysis in Excel using advanced formulas and functions. INDEX, MATCH, and INDEX MATCH MATCH Functions 1. The INDEX function works similarly to the VLOOKUP function by returning a value in a table based on the intersection of a row and column position…
Guide on How to Group in Excel Grouping rows and columns in Excel is critical for building and maintaining a well-organized and well-structured financial model. Using the Excel group function is the best practice when it comes to staying organized, as you should never hide cells in Excel. This guide will show you how to…
Dynamic Dates, Sum, Average and Scenarios For financial analysts in investment banking, equity research, FP&A, and corporate development, it is advantageous to learn advanced Excel skills because it makes you stand out from your competitors. In this article, we will go through some of the best industry practices that will help you dramatically speed up…
