ROI FMVA CFI VS WSP FINANCIAL MODELING COURSE

Hey guys,

I’m currently doing a restructuring summer internship and I’m looking to really master financial modeling. I have two PE fund interviews coming up in December, and I’m also targeting classic M&A investment banking roles.

I’d love to hear your opinions—both biased and unbiased—on CFI vs. WSP. Or, if you think there’s another course that’s even better for actually understanding and learning financial modeling, I’d really appreciate the recommendation.

My goal is to be as prepared as possible for interviews. For context, I’m just entering my second year at ESCP. I haven’t taken Corporate Finance yet, but I’ve picked up a decent amount through my current internship and want to build a much stronger technical foundation.

Thanks in advance!

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To master financial modeling and prepare for your upcoming PE fund interviews and M&A roles, here's a breakdown based on the most helpful WSO content:

Wall Street Prep (WSP)

  • Strengths: WSP is widely recognized and used by many investment banks. It offers a comprehensive curriculum with 30 bonus mini-courses, covering everything from Excel modeling to advanced LBOs and M&A. It's thorough and practical, making it a strong choice for building a solid technical foundation.
  • Reputation: Highly respected in the industry, especially among professionals in investment banking and private equity.
  • Cost: Slightly on the higher side, but the depth of content and industry alignment justifies the price.

Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) - FMVA

  • Strengths: The FMVA program leans more toward corporate finance and includes modern templates. It’s structured and beginner-friendly, making it a good option if you’re looking for a broader understanding of financial modeling.
  • Reputation: While it’s gaining traction, it’s not as widely recognized in high finance (IB/PE) as WSP or BIWS.
  • Cost: Comparable to WSP but may feel less tailored for IB/PE-specific roles.

Recommendation

Given your goals (PE interviews, M&A roles, and mastering technicals), WSP would likely be the better choice. Its focus on investment banking and private equity modeling aligns closely with your needs. Additionally, the WSO Elite Modeling Package could be worth considering. It’s designed to improve upon traditional offerings like WSP and BIWS, with case studies and practical applications tailored for high finance roles.

Additional Tips

  • Since you haven’t taken Corporate Finance yet, supplement your learning with foundational resources like Investment Banking by Rosenbaum & Pearl or Financial Modeling by Benninga.
  • Practice with real-world case studies and templates to solidify your skills.
  • If budget allows, consider combining WSP with the WSO Elite Modeling Package for a more comprehensive preparation.

Good luck with your interviews and technical prep!

Sources: The Battle of Financial Modeling Courses in 2020, NEW Financial Modeling Training Courses, NEW Financial Modeling Training Courses, WSP vs Wall Street Training vs BIWS vs NYIF Investment Banking Certification

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Thank you for your insight. There’s also a big factor stuck in my mind, and that is the impact on the CV. If anything other than the CFA matters… Which one do you think recruiters know and value the most?

 

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