Welcome to Financial Modeler's Corner (FMC) where we discuss the art and science of financial modeling with your host Paul Barnhurst. Financial Modeler's Corner is sponsored by Financial Modeling Institute (FMI) the most respected accreditations in Financial Modeling globally. In this episode, Paul Barnhurst is joined by David C. Brown, an Associate Professor of Finance. David focuses on teaching finance and financial modeling, bringing his real-world experience to the classroom with his students. He is also heavily involved in helping students improve Excel skills, including running the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Championship (MECC) He is very passionate about research and his work has been highlighted by the Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch.   Listen to this episode as David shares: His journey and background into Modeling His experience starting and running the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge How Financial Modeling competitions help you grow and learn The key differences between modeling for competition and modeling for work His learning from his research and years of experience How he would structure the college finance program if he were in charge His latest research on Target Date Funds and how they perform relative to other retirement portfolios His position on controversial modeling issues, including circular references, dynamic arrays, modeling standards, and more Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation or FMI Fundamentals Today and receive 15% off by using the special show code podcast. Visit www.fminstitute.com/podcast and use code podcast to save 15% when you register. Go to https://earmarkcpe.com , download the app, take the quiz and you can receive CPE credit.   Follow David:   YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@docbrownexcels   Website - https://www.davidclaytonbrown.com/ E-mail - dcbrown@email.arizona.edu   ·        To learn more about Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge, visit this website- https://mecc.college/   Follow Paul: Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefpandaguy/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thefpandaguy Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheFPandAGuy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefpaguy8376   Quotes: “ Collegiate Challenge is not about being the best, its about challenging yourself, learning more and getting better at it. ”   “ If you understand Python you can figure out Excel. ” “ Excel is the way to get people into data analytics. ” “ Challenge the assumptions, challenge the model and eventually figure out whats wrong. ”   In today’s episode: (00:22) Intro; (00:45) Welcoming David Brown; (01:25) The worst financial model David has ever seen ; (03:17) David’s take away from the worst financial model ; (06:08) David ’s background; (10:05) How David decided to become a Finance Professor ; (12:39 - 13:25) Validate your Financial Modeling Skills with FMI’s Accreditation Program (ad); (13:27) What is the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge; (17:20) Excel Tables; (19:17) Advice to students willing to participate in these competitions; (21:33) David’s experience with these competitions; (24:47) How to help students with a hands on experience to building models; (27:04) David’s suggestion to changes in college curriculum; (29:07) Financial Modeling for competitions vs. Building it for clients; (31:10) David’s learning from his research; (37:58) Rapid Fire; (42:19) Nugget on how to become a better modeler; (43:57) Connect with David; (44:50) Paul’s best picks –       How David wishes to teach the college program for Finance (45:23) CPE Credit with this episode; (45:40) Outro.