ModeLoop: Financial Modelling in Excel

Samir Asadov, CFA

Learn financial modelling in Excel through practical lessons on model structure, three-statement models, DCF and essential Excel functions. ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A, project finance and structured finance for offshore wind and renewables. Each episode has a written blog post and a YouTube lecture. Blog: https://modeloop.net/Blog YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mod3Loop Courses: https://modeloop.net/Course Models: https://modeloop.net/Store

  1. 1d ago

    P2E17: Excel Charts for Financial Models - Visualise Your Financial Data Effectively

    Charting essentials for financial models in Excel: how to pick the right chart for the question, build charts that update with every scenario, and format them so a lender or investment committee gets the message in seconds. In this episode: Start with the one-sentence message, then choose line, bar, stacked column, waterfall or tornadoThe coverage combo chart: CFADS vs debt service with DSCR and covenant linesDebt balance profiles, EBITDA and value bridges, tornado sensitivities and scenario comparisonsCharts that update with the model: output blocks, Excel Tables, named ranges and linked titlesBoard-ready formatting: axes from zero, less clutter, colour with meaning, one label on the point that matters📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/n5hRPMbiFAw 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  2. 2d ago

    P2E16: Goal Seek and Solver in Excel - Work Backwards to the Answer You Need

    Goal Seek and Solver in Excel let your financial model work backwards from the answer you need: the breakeven price, the bid tariff that hits the hurdle IRR, or the maximum debt a project can carry. We use both on real project finance, M&A and FP&A problems. In this episode: Goal Seek step by step: breakeven price, bid pricing, maximum purchase price, covenant headroomGoal Seek rules: formula-driven targets, hard-coded inputs, precision and starting pointsSolver for debt sizing: maximise senior debt subject to DSCR, gearing and tenor constraintsChoosing GRG Nonlinear, Simplex LP or EvolutionaryThe traps: circularity macros, hidden hard-codes, local optima and reproducibility📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E16-Goal-Seek-and-Solver-in-Excel-Work-Backwards-to-the-Answer-You-Need 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/fA2MaT7dhZo 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  3. 2d ago

    P2E15: Data Tables in Excel for Sensitivity Analysis - Test Hundreds of Scenarios in One Grid

    Data Tables in Excel for sensitivity analysis let you test hundreds of scenarios in one grid without touching your base case. We build one-variable and two-variable Data Tables for equity IRR, minimum DSCR and NPV, using project finance, DCF, M&A and FP&A examples. In this episode: What a Data Table does and why the base case never changesSensitivity flex cells such as Capex × (1 + Flex%)One-variable and two-variable tables via Data › What-If Analysis › Data TableClassic views: DSCR vs P90 and opex, IRR vs capex and COD delay, EV vs WACC and growthThe traps: slow recalcs, macro-broken circularities, cross-sheet inputs, checking the centre cell📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E15-Data-Tables-in-Excel-for-Sensitivity-Analysis-Test-Hundreds-of-Scenarios-in-One-Grid 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/nukPPx55mgM 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  4. 4d ago

    P2E14: PivotTables in Excel for Financial Analysis - Summarise 40,000 Rows in Seconds

    PivotTables in Excel for financial analysis turn a 40,000-row ledger or generation export into a clear summary in seconds, with the ability to drill back to any transaction behind a number. In this episode: Getting the data into shape: one record per row and an Excel Table (Ctrl+T) so refresh picks up new rowsBuilding the pivot: Rows, Columns, Values and Filters, Sum not Count, field number formats and Tabular layoutGrouping dates into quarters, Show Values As for variance analysis, slicers and double-click drill-downWhere PivotTables fit: due diligence, reconciliations, operational data and FP&A reportingThe traps: GETPIVOTDATA instead of direct links, refreshing, and the pivot cache on deal models📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E14-PivotTables-in-Excel-for-Financial-Analysis-Summarise-Thousands-of-Rows-in-Seconds 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/qHpeERqU0oE 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  5. Oct 12

    P2E13: Named Ranges in Excel for Financial Models - Formulas That Read Like English

    Named ranges in Excel for financial models turn cryptic cell coordinates into formulas that read like English: =CFADS/Debt_Service instead of =F45/$D$18. Easier to read, easier to audit and harder to break. In this episode: Three ways to create names, including Create from Selection (Ctrl+Shift+F3)Where names earn their place: global inputs, drop-down lists, lookup tables and key outputsDynamic names with Excel Tables and spill ranges, and why to avoid volatile OFFSETCleaning up with the Name Manager: #REF! names, duplicates and hidden external links📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E13-Named-Ranges-in-Excel-Make-Your-Formulas-Read-Like-English 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/pLofaj2DCrU 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  6. Oct 8

    P2E12: Conditional Formatting in Excel for Financial Models - Flag Breaches & Errors

    Conditional formatting in Excel for financial models turns a grid of numbers into a model that points at its own problems: covenant breaches, broken balance checks and formula errors surface themselves instead of waiting to be found. In this episode: Formula-based rules and why the $ signs decide which cells get checkedFive rules every model needs: covenant breaches, check rows, errors, timeline shading, negative cashData bars and colour scales for sensitivity tables, used with restraintManaging duplicated rules in inherited models📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E12-Conditional-Formatting-in-Excel-Let-Your-Model-Flag-Its-Own-Problems 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/CjC9oERtSV4 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  7. Sep 29

    Excel Data Validation for Financial Models: Drop-Down Menus & Input Controls (P2E11)

    Excel data validation is the cheapest insurance in any financial model: it controls what goes into your input cells before a bad entry breaks something. This episode shows how to build drop-down menus, scenario switches and input rules that keep a model clean when someone else opens it. In this episode: Drop-down menus for a Base / Upside / Downside scenario switchKeeping lists on a dedicated Lists sheet with named rangesInput messages, error alerts and custom validation rulesDependent drop-downs with INDIRECT and rejecting duplicates with COUNTIFCircle Invalid Data: auditing an inherited model in seconds📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E11-Data-Validation-in-Excel-Drop-Down-Menus-That-Keep-Your-Model-Clean 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/atQfF-APl0g 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

  8. Apr 26

    IRR vs XIRR vs NPV in Excel: Investment Return Calculations (P2E10)

    NPV, IRR and XIRR are the Excel functions behind every investment return calculation, from DCF valuation and LBO equity returns to solar and wind project finance. This lecture shows how each works, when to use which, and the mistakes that silently break financial models. In this episode: The number one NPV mistake: the Period 0 cash flowIRR: how it works and when it breaks downWhy XIRR, not IRR, is right for real transactions with irregular datesUse cases: LBO equity IRR, project finance, DCF, capital budgeting#NUM! errors, multiple IRRs and the reinvestment assumption📖 Full blog post: https://modeloop.net/Blog/P2E10-IRR-XIRR-NPV-in-Excel-Mastering-Return-Calculations-for-Investment-Analysis 📺 Watch the video lecture: https://youtu.be/7PjAB8Um-84 🎓 Courses: Excel for Financial Modelling | AI in Project Finance Modelling 🌐 modeloop.net ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A and project finance for renewables.

    IRR vs XIRR vs NPV in Excel: Investment Return Calculations (P2E10)
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About

Learn financial modelling in Excel through practical lessons on model structure, three-statement models, DCF and essential Excel functions. ModeLoop is created by Samir Asadov, CFA, with 15 years in M&A, project finance and structured finance for offshore wind and renewables. Each episode has a written blog post and a YouTube lecture. Blog: https://modeloop.net/Blog YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mod3Loop Courses: https://modeloop.net/Course Models: https://modeloop.net/Store

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