Hi all, I'm new here and I don't know if this is a stupid question or not. but i'm just wondering can you guys build financial models off the top of your head or you usually get reference from books?
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I usually just reference/modify/tweak an already built model. It's rare you'll have to do one completely from scratch. (Maybe others have different experiences?)
Agree with the above poster. Usually start with some kind of template and customize from there. That being said, however, I actually enjoy doing them from scratch or close to scratch, if I've got the time (which is becoming much more rare these days). Templates have always made me a little nervous. But I think I speak for the bulk of analysts / associates out there in that we can, if we wanted to, build a good working model from scratch without referencing a book.
If I need a very complex model ASAP, I'll just customize something I made long ago (or a model from a closed deal).
If its a simple model, I have a lot of time, or I know that its such a weird thing that it needs to be custom anyway, then scratch all the way.
After a time, it becomes so easy to make most types of models that you don't really care where it comes from, just that it works and does what you need.
As someone trying to break into banking, does anyone have an example of a medium complexity model they have built that they could send me or is that all confidential shit that cannot be shown to anyone? I just want some idea of the types of things I would be building and if my excel skills are anywhere near where they need to be. PM me if you have any insight.
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