Why AI Makes Financial Modeling Best Practices More Important with Marli van Staden-Basson

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Marli van Staden-Basson about best-practice financial modeling, AI, model design, and the skills needed to build reliable models. Marli explains why transparency, usability, and risk management matter, and how AI makes strong modeling practices even more important.

Marli van Staden-Basson is the founder and financial modeling specialist at Near Future Limited, with over 20 years of experience in corporate and infrastructure finance. She specializes in renewable energy and digital infrastructure modeling, including complex model development and independent model audits.

Expect to Learn:

• What best-practice financial modeling really means.
• Why model design and transparency are so important.
• How AI is changing financial modeling.
• Common modeling mistakes and practices to avoid.
• How to design models around the people who use them.
• Why human review remains essential when using AI.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• "You are still the last line of defence as the human modeler." - Marli van Staden-Basson
• "A good financial model should really be doing a single thing." - Marli van Staden-Basson

AI can make modeling faster, but Marli explains why it does not replace good modeling practices. Clear design, purposeful structure, checks, and human judgement remain essential for creating models that are reliable and easy to review.

Follow Marli:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marli-van-staden-basson-7119ba28/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/

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

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In Today's Episode:

[00:00] - Trailer

[03:29] - Building a Career in Financial Modeling

[07:18] - Breaking the Modeler Stereotype

[10:54] - Financial Modeling Horror Stories

[18:49] - Starting a Financial Modeling Consultancy

[24:28] - AI and Best-Practice Modeling

[30:26] - Why Model Design Matters

[37:07] - Tips for Building Better Models

[41:23] - Worst Modeling Practices to Avoid

[47:43] - Excel Rapid Fire

[51:05] - AI and the Future of Modeling