Official FMI Training Partner
Pass the AFM Exam.
Build the Skills That Last.
The only AFM prep that teaches you to model with judgment, not just speed. Includes exam registration, live coaching, and the TACTIC Framework used by finance professionals worldwide.
The Real Challenge
Most candidates don’t fail on finance.
Most people don’t fail the AFM because they don’t understand finance. They fail because they can’t execute under pressure. The exam gives you a case study, a blank Excel sheet, and 4 hours. No template. No automations.
You build a fully integrated three-statement model from scratch — P&L, balance sheet, cash flow — with proper linkages, a debt revolver, and working scenarios. All proctored. All timed. If you’ve never done that against the clock, exam day is not the time to figure it out.
The Credential
What is the FMI?
The Financial Modeling Institute is the global authority on financial modeling accreditation. Founded to promote excellence and discipline in financial modeling, the FMI offers three certification levels: AFM (Advanced Financial Modeler), CFM (Chartered Financial Modeler), and MFM (Master Financial Modeler).
Their exams are proctored, time-bound, and graded by experts. FMI certifications are recognized by employers, recruiters, and finance leaders worldwide as the standard for modeling proficiency. Tactic Financial is an official FMI training partner.
Why the FMI
The body setting the standard.
New global study · The Human Financial Modeller
A global study on AI and financial modeling.
Carolina is a member of the Financial Modeling Institute’s Global Leaders Council, which brought together 63 experts across 26 countries to examine how AI is changing financial modeling in practice: where it helps, where it falls short, and what it means for the modelers who use it.
contributing
represented
Recognized where it counts
Financial Modeling Institute has partnered with Microsoft to support their development of Copilot in Excel for financial modeling.
FMI’s library of real-world financial modeling cases have become a foundational part of how we evaluate Copilot in Excel for finance work.
— Microsoft
The Standard
What does it mean to be an AFM?
The AFM validates that you can build a complete three-statement financial model of a company from scratch in Excel. Not from a template. Not with AI assistance. From a blank workbook.
That’s a skill that employers, clients, and stakeholders trust. It proves you understand how revenue hits the P&L, how working capital flows through the balance sheet, how cash moves — and that you can construct a model that communicates the full financial story of a business. The AFM is the foundational credential for anyone serious about financial modeling.
AFM holders work at
Upcoming Sittings
Pick the date that works for you.
Upcoming Exam Dates
- October 24, 2026
- February 20, 2027
- May 15, 2027
- July 10, 2027
Note: Registration for the October 24, 2026 sitting closes September 25, 2026. Start your preparation now so you’re ready for the date that works for you.
Our AFM preparation fee includes:
- The Three Statement Financial Model course
- Extra lessons and live sessions exclusive to AFM candidates
- Live coaching before every exam sitting
- Test fees and access to the FMI Community
Your Pace, Your Path
Weeks or months — both work.
Some candidates take it slow, working through the material over several months, building confidence at their own pace alongside a full-time job. Others go from not knowing financial modeling to being AFM-certified in a matter of weeks.
Both approaches work. The course is self-paced with 1 year of access, so you decide the timeline. What matters is that when you sit down for the exam, you’ve built enough models that the process feels automatic. The FMI suggests 25–100 hours of preparation depending on experience level. With the TACTIC Framework, most candidates land on the shorter end.
How It Works
Three ways you get exam-ready.
Learn by Building
10+ hours of video lessons walking you through complete model builds from a blank spreadsheet to finished output. Every schedule comes with the business logic behind it — not just formulas, but why the numbers move the way they do. You’ll understand the three statements at a level that stays with you long after the exam.
Practice Under Exam Conditions
Multiple full practice cases designed to simulate the real AFM exam. Timed. From scratch. The more you build, the faster and more automatic it becomes. You won’t walk into the exam seeing something for the first time.
Live Coaching When It Counts
Monthly Q&A sessions throughout the year, plus three intensive live sessions before every exam sitting. Get your questions answered, troubleshoot weak spots, and sharpen your approach when it matters most. You’re not doing this alone.
Testimonials
Hear from our members.
★★★★★
“Carolina and her Tactic framework is the Schweser of AFM and Financial Modeling! I was not only able to grab her concepts that gave me an extremely solid base in my journey towards earning the AFM accreditation, I was also able to prepare and sit for the exam in a month’s time! Her coaching methodology is simple, yet, hugely impactful and relevant for AFM. A great investment it has been. Coupled with required efforts put in from the candidates’ side, it is a sure-fire formula for AFM and Financial Modeling success.”
Hasan Khan Jadoon, AFM, FMVA®
★★★★★
“Carolina Lago is my modelling teacher. She taught me in a record time and according to her I was ready to take the AFM exam by FMI within no time. I doubted myself but she was confident about it. I have ultimately attained the AFM designation. Her secret is simple, the 3 hook technique; very powerful but effective.”
Moses Juma, AFM
Meet Your Instructor
Hey, I’m Carolina!
I’ve spent 25+ years in FP&A across industries and continents. I hold the AFM certification and I’m one of a small group of official training partners of the Financial Modeling Institute worldwide.
My students don’t just pass exams — they understand how financial statements connect, why the numbers move the way they do, and how to build models that tell a business story.
I’ve trained hundreds of finance professionals. Several have gone from zero modeling experience to AFM-certified in under a month using this program. Others took their time and got there with equal confidence. The method works either way.
- AFM Certified
- Official FMI Training Partner
- 25+ Years FP&A
- TACTIC Framework Creator
Enrollment
You’ll be ready for the exam in no time.
Tactic AFM Prep
Here’s what you get:
- Full Financial Modeling Course $450
- 12 Monthly Live Sessions $1,997
- 12 Turbo AFM Live Sessions $1,997
- Practice Cases Package $500
- FMI Test Fees and Full Access $725
Total value $5,669
$895one-time
Get instant access1 year access · Exam registration included · Live coaching before every sitting
Still Not Sure?
Frequently asked questions.
How long do I need to prepare?
We provide a suggested preparation calendar for each exam sitting that covers around 11 weeks. That’s the structure most candidates follow. But it’s a guide, not a rule — some people need longer depending on their schedule and starting point, and others have gone from course start to passing the exam in under a month. You have 1 year of access, so you can work at whatever pace fits your life.
Do I need accounting or finance experience?
The FMI has no formal prerequisites. That said, a working understanding of the three financial statements helps. The course covers the underlying concepts, but if you’re coming from a non-finance background, expect to invest more practice time.
What exactly is the exam like?
4 hours, online, proctored. You receive a case study and build a complete three-statement model from scratch in Excel. No templates allowed. No automations. It’s you, Excel, and the case.
Is the exam registration really included?
Yes. The AFM exam registration costs $725 on its own through the FMI. It’s included in your $895. You’re paying $170 for the entire training program, live coaching, and practice cases beyond the exam fee.
What if I don’t pass on my first attempt?
You keep your access to the course for a full year. You can continue practicing, attend the live sessions before the next sitting, and retake the exam. The exam re-registration fee would be separate, but the training and coaching remain available to you.
Can I get reimbursed by my employer?
Many companies cover professional development and certification costs. We provide documentation to help you submit for reimbursement through your L&D or education budget.
Can I add 1-on-1 coaching?
Yes. Single sessions are $200 each, or a package of 8 sessions for $1,400. Useful if you want to accelerate or work through a specific area you’re stuck on.
Ready to be a certified Advanced Financial Modeler?
You’ve been thinking about the AFM long enough.
Exam registration, full training program, live coaching, practice cases. Everything in one place for $895.
- 1 year access
- Exam registration included
- Live coaching before every sitting