Back in my days working on IB, formatting wasn’t just about making a spreadsheet look good — it was about making a financial model trustworthy. When your model looks polished, it signals to clients and colleagues that you’re detail-oriented and reliable. In financial modeling, credibility often starts with presentation. In this post, I’ll walk you […]
How to make your Excel financial models look professional Read More »
The discontinuation of Macabacus Lite marked a moment of frustration for many finance professionals and students. For years, this free (or low-cost) version of the popular Microsoft Office add-in was the gateway to a world of productivity and financial modeling. Although much more limited than the full version of Macabacus, Macabacus Lite still offered essential
Macabacus Free (Lite) is no longer available. What is the best alternative? Read More »
When you’re dealing with complex financial models or large spreadsheets, finding the source of an error – the root cause – is often the hardest part of the job. You need to know exactly which cells feed into a formula, but manually clicking through references can quickly become a nightmare of switching tabs and endless
🔍 How to Trace and Drill-Down on Formula Precedents in Excel Read More »
You’ve been there. You have a perfectly calculated block of formulas – maybe a complex mix of Variance Actual to Previous Year and Actual to Budget. You need to move that entire block to a new spot in your spreadsheet, but here’s the catch: you do not want the cell references to update. Normally, when
In financial models, reports, and planning spreadsheets, it’s common to add a letter next to a year to clarify what type of data it represents: So instead of just seeing 2025, you’ll often see 2025E, 2024A, or 2026B. This small change helps clarify assumptions and improves communication across teams. If you’re wondering why someone would
Borders play a key role in structuring data, making tables easier to read, and organizing information visually in Excel. Whether you’re building reports, dashboards, or printable layouts, clean borders help separate sections and guide the reader’s eye. If you’re wondering why anyone would need a shortcut for this, it might be because you don’t use
🔲 How to Add Borders in Excel – The Smartest Way to Apply Clean, Consistent Outlines Read More »
In financial models, product sheets, and business dashboards, it’s common to use an “x” to indicate multiplication factors – like 2.5x, 10x, or 0.8x. This small suffix quickly signals that the number represents a multiple – which is especially useful in pricing, valuation, or growth comparison contexts. If you’re wondering why someone would format numbers
✖️ How to Add an “x” Suffix to Numbers in Excel – The Smartest Way to Format Multipliers Read More »
Color is one of the fastest ways to communicate meaning in Excel. Whether you’re flagging important figures, labeling different data groups, or simply making your spreadsheet more readable – changing font color can make a big difference. But doing it manually through the ribbon every time? Slow, repetitive, and disruptive. If you find yourself constantly
🎨 How to Change Font Color Instantly in Excel – A Smarter Way to Highlight Your Data Read More »
In Excel, color-coding is one of the most effective ways to make your data stand out. Whether you’re organizing data by categories, flagging important figures, or simply making your spreadsheet more visually appealing, changing cell colors can make a huge difference. While color coding is often used in financial analysis to highlight key metrics like
🎨 How to Cycle Cell Colors Instantly in Excel – A Smarter Way to Organize Your Data Read More »
When working with numbers in Excel, presentation matters. Whether you’re dealing with large sums of money, quantities, or any other numerical data, a clear, consistent format makes your information easier to read and understand. One of the most common number formats used across many industries – especially in finance – includes a thousands separator, parentheses
🔢 How to Format Numbers Instantly in Excel – A Smarter Way to Keep Your Data Organized Read More »
