AI, Excel and the Changing Role of Financial Modelers with Danielle Stein Fairhurst

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Danielle Stein Fairhurst to discuss how AI is changing financial modeling, why modelers need to keep learning, and how dynamic arrays are shaping the future of Excel. Danielle also shares her thoughts on model design, AFM exam preparation, and why strategic thinking still matters in an AI-driven world.

Danielle Stein Fairhurst is the Principal Financial Modeling Specialist at Plum Solutions, a Microsoft Excel MVP, Master Financial Modeler with the Financial Modeling Institute, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and internationally recognized financial modeling trainer and speaker. She is also the author of Financial Modeling in Excel For Dummies and Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling.

Expect to Learn:

• How AI is changing financial modeling.
• Why modelers should not outsource all their thinking to AI.
• How dynamic arrays are changing Excel modeling.
• What it takes to prepare for the AFM exam.
• Why simplicity and strong model design still matter.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “AI is already building financial models, and that is quite terrifying to me.” - Danielle Stein Fairhurst
• “I think it’s important that we just sit down and think strategically about what we want, rather than outsourcing all of your creativity and all of your thinking to AI.” - Danielle Stein Fairhurst

Danielle explains that AI can now handle many technical tasks that once required significant modeling expertise. She believes modelers should embrace these tools while still relying on their own judgment, creativity, and strategic thinking.

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Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration that has undergone human editorial review.

In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Trailer

[05:19] - AI and the Future of Financial Modeling

[08:30] - Financial Modeling Pet Peeves

[10:21] - Updating Courses with AI

[15:34] - Lessons From Danielle’s Pilgrimage

[18:26] - AI Building Financial Models

[27:30] - Training vs. Real-World Modeling

[31:01] - Preparing for the AFM Exam

[35:35] - Dynamic Arrays in Financial Modeling

[40:24] - Lessons From Past Models

[44:47] - Rapid Fire: Excel & Modeling

[48:41] - Closing Thoughts