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The challenge in writing How NOT to Invest was organizing a large number of ideas, many of which were only loosely connected, into something coherent, understandable, and, most importantly, readable. That insight greatly simplified my task of making the book both fun to read and helpful for anyone interested in investing.
It is especially true for strategists and forecasters at large brokers and banks. Consider this December 29, 2024, year-end review in Bloomberg : “By this time last year, the stock markets rally had blown past even the most optimistic targets, and Wall Street forecasters were convinced it couldnt keep up the dizzying pace.
Forecast Like a CFO, Not a Fortune Teller If your forecast still fits neatly on a spreadsheet tab and assumes the world will behave, its time for a rethink. Because lets face these days, planning the future on a single-track projection is like betting the farm on a weather forecast. Not every risk deserves a forecast branch.
FP&A is an evolving function that falls into the intersection of finance, operations and strategy aimed at driving better decision-making trough insightful analysis, forecasting and goal setting. In this blog post I wont focus on the activities that fall into FP&As scope by default, such as budgeting, forecasting and regular analysis.
30% of businesses have invested in AI. From demand forecasting to inventory optimization, risk mitigation to sustainability — AI is set to transform everything. AI isn’t the future. It’s here, now. Another 57% will do it in the next 12 months*.
Heading into 2025, accurate sales forecasting is more critical than ever. Here are five key ways to align your sales forecasting and budgeting processes for success in the year ahead. Here are five key ways to align your sales forecasting and budgeting processes for success in the year ahead.
Most Innovative Financial Technology Company in Middle East | GEIDEA The first payment provider in the Middle East and North Africa region to offer instant merchant onboarding, Geidea enables businesses to start accepting payments within minutes, thanks to substantial investments in automation, AI, and digital verification.
Tanzanias socioeconomic transformation drives economic dominance by attracting substantial investments and dominating intraregional trade. The momentum persists, with growth forecast at 5.4% UNCTADs 2024 World Investment Report shows that while FDI inflows into Africa declined by 3% in 2023, Tanzania was a standout.
Before You Forecast the Future, Figure Out Who You Are! It helps you stay grounded when the CEO questions your forecast, when a compliance issue lands on your desk, or when your team misses the mark. And for CFOs who want to lead beyond the spreadsheet, it is one of the smartest investments you can make. So take the time.
Businesses want agile forecasts, granular analysis, seamless reporting, and smart automation—often without added resources while demanding uncompromised accuracy and compliance. The pressure is real: interpret data like a strategist, lead transformation, and still close the books with precision.
Some forecasted 2023 as a “venture winter” with VCs slowing their check-writing pace, demanding a clear strategy for sustained growth, a proven track record of achieving key performance indicators, and a strong management team before they invest. In fact, recent trends show venture capitalists are becoming even more cautious.
Survey Results Cash Forecasting & Visibility Strategic Treasurer’s Cash Forecasting & Visibility Survey, developed in partnership with TIS, sought to understand the current trends in forecasting methods and technology, visibility and reporting, and technology use. It can take a few minutes to receive the email.
How Savvy CFOs Evaluate Investment Risks As a CFO, you know that investment decisions can be a game of high stakes. But lets be honestevaluating investment risks isnt just about spreadsheets and financial models. Spotting the Risk in Every Reward Every investment decision carries an element of uncertainty.
Optimising Budgets: Strategies for Effective Financial Forecasting Financial forecasting plays a crucial role in managing budgets effectively. However, forecasting is not just about guessing numbersit is a structured process that relies on analysing past data, considering present trends, and planning. Allocate resources wisely.
Nicolas Rabener is the managing director of Finominal, which provides quantitative solutions for factor investing. Previously he founded Jackdaw Capital, a quantitative investment manager focused on equity market neutral strategies. He started his career working for Citigroup in investment banking in London and New York.
This issue hampers forecasting accuracy, risk management, and resource allocation. Without accurate insights, businesses struggle with forecasting, risk management, and resource allocation. This leads to better budgeting, more reliable forecasting, and stronger financial stability. Use past data to predict future performance.
Higgins is the author of Investing in U.S. Financial History: Understanding the Past to Forecast the Future. In March 2024, Investing in U.S. Financial History was awarded a bronze medal in the prestigious 2024 Axiom Book Awards under the category of “Personal Finance/Retirement Planning/Investing.”
Financial models are essential for organizations, helping forecast financial performance using historical data and future projections. This practice allows businesses, investors, and finance professionals to evaluate investment opportunities, assess risks, forecast future scenarios, and support strategic decision-making.
For instance, using automated invoicing software could save hours of manual work, enabling your team to focus on higher-value tasks like analysing trends or forecasting. Invest in areas that drive sustainable growth. Regularly Review Your Cost Structure A detailed cost review is not just an annual exercise.
It’s really a strategy for handling the money coming in and going out of an organization, making sure there’s enough liquidity to pay bills, invest, and handle any unexpected expenses. They offer a complete suite of features that help businesses forecast cash flows, handle short-term investments, and improve liquidity.
Invest in Learning and Development Continuous learning is the backbone of growth. Allowing someone who primarily works in accounts payable to gain experience in forecasting or treasury provides them with a broader understanding of finance operations. It requires you to invest time, energy, and resources into their development.
By forecasting cash flow and aligning it with business objectives, companies can anticipate potential shortfalls and surpluses. For instance, predictive analytics can forecast cash flow fluctuations, enabling CFOs to proactively address potential issues and seize growth opportunities.
This involves investing in technology that automates routine tasks and provides valuable insights that can drive competitive advantage. By investing in training and development, finance leaders can equip their teams with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of a digital finance landscape, she elaborates.
Publicly traded stocks and bonds have been great investments over the last 15 years, but wealthy investors are increasingly looking for alternatives to what the public securities markets offer them. That would represent a huge shift in investing behavior for high-net-worth (HNW) investors. trillion at the end of 2023 to $29.22
The World Bank has revised India's growth forecast for the current fiscal year to 6.3%, citing global economic headwinds and policy uncertainties. This adjustment follows a similar downward revision by the IMF, reflecting concerns about slower private investment and public capital expenditure.
Companies increasingly adopt digital tools to improve cash flow forecasting, automate reconciliation, and manage liquidity more effectively," he adds. He recommends using advanced forecasting tools integrated with real-time data to improve cash flow predictions and allocate surplus funds more effectively.
In corporate finance and investing, which are areas that I work in, I find myself doing double takes as I listen to politicians, market experts and economists making statements about company and market behavior that are fairy tales, and data is often my weapon for discerning the truth. Return on (invested) capital 2. Buybacks 2.
Higgins is the author of Investing in U.S. Financial History: Understanding the Past to Forecast the Future. In March 2024, Investing in U.S. Financial History was awarded a bronze medal in the prestigious 2024 Axiom Book Awards under the category of “Personal Finance/Retirement Planning/Investing.”
With over 200 integrations (think ERP and CRM systems), its built to streamline financial data management, budgeting, forecasting, and more. Robust automation for budgeting and forecasting. Higher initial investment. Key Features Generative AI chatbot (FP&A Genius) for real-time insights. Pros Native Excel integration.
You need people who don’t just know how to close the books, but how to forecast outcomes, stress test assumptions, and build the kind of decision-support tools that bring insight to life. Their forecasts have credibility. Without it, everything from your cash flow forecasts to your investor presentations becomes shaky.
Higgins is the author of Investing in U.S. Financial History: Understanding the Past to Forecast the Future. In March 2024, Investing in U.S. Financial History was awarded a bronze medal in the prestigious 2024 Axiom Book Awards under the category of “Personal Finance/Retirement Planning/Investing.”
From employing local talent to investing in community health infrastructure, GDC’s approach integrates ESG principles into its broader business strategy. Investments in corporate social responsibility (CSR) also yield significant dividends. This allows for informed and strategic investment decisions.
What Every CFO Needs to Lead On Smart investment strategy starts with asking: Whats the purpose of this money? Strategic Cash Longer-term funds that can be invested for better returns. Its the backbone of everythingfrom how you structure investment approvals to how you defend decisions to your board. Thats not a strategy.
There was a large, continuous increase in write-offs of goodwill in investment in acquisitions. But overconfidence means that they believe their abilities to acquire, to invest, are substantially above their real abilities, and studies have shown that something like 30%, 40% of CEOs are overconfident.
Barry challenges common financial myths, explores why we’re drawn to faulty financial forecasts, and highlights red flags in popular financial advice. Good stuff!
He also highlights the importance of building agility in supply chain management and, external focus and benchmarking in forecasting, whilst continuing to be data and insight-led. He firmly believes that quality of talent can be a competitive advantage and investing time and resources behind that has a positive return.
There is no avoiding this universal truth of investing. New York Times ) Be sure to check out our Masters in Business this week Velina Peneva , where she manages Swiss Re ‘s internal cpaital as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer: Previously, she was Private Equity practice leader in Zurich for Bain & Company.
Whether it’s expansion into a new market, investment in digital infrastructure, or rationalising product lines, information is the common currency that enables sound judgement. Shifting from static reporting to dynamic forecasting and real-time analytics. Building partnerships across business units to co-create solutions.
This is forcing finance leaders to integrate ESG considerations into their financial planning, reporting, and investment decisions. They should also invest in developing their soft skills , such as communication, leadership, and decision-making.
If I have terrified you with the PE story, and you have undoubtedly heard variants of this story from market experts and strategists for much of the last decade, I would hasten to add that investing on that basis would have kept you out of stocks for much of the last ten years, with catastrophic consequences for your portfolio.
Businesses must develop a strategic approach that addresses common obstacles and ensures that technology investments align with their operational goals to avoid these issues. Inadequate Budgeting and Forecasting Another common pitfall is inadequate budgeting and forecasting. How Can Companies Avoid These Pitfalls?
How middle-market PE firms are redefining the CFO role to maximize returns in an increasingly complex investment environment The private equity playbook is shifting. For Operating Partners and General Partners focused on middle-market investments, the CFO has evolved from financial steward to strategic architect. yearsup from 3.1
By employing advanced forecasting tools and real-time financial reporting, they maintained a healthy cash reserve, allowing them to invest in new markets and technologies confidently. Additionally, ROI analysis tools play a crucial role in evaluating the success of financial strategies and investments.
The integration of sustainability into budgeting, forecasting, and investment decisions. The Role of Finance in Sustainability CFOs are increasingly involved in driving sustainability initiatives. The survey examines: How finance teams manage ESG risks and opportunities.
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