Library › Finance AI › FP&A and financial analysts

Model three growth options for 12-month operating income

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

You're giving the CFO a quick view of three growth options. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Option 1:", "Option 2:", "Option 3:", "Highest modeled operating income:" and "Not modeled:". Each option line shows revenue effect x gross margin minus cost, with the math. Include the rep ramp period. The last line lists uncertainties from the notes. The CFO decides; don't recommend an option. Under 110 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Ignoring the ramp. The AI gives Option 1 a full 12 months and shows +$48,000. Try: Add: "Option 1 revenue counts 9 months because of the 3-month ramp."
  • Using the optimistic revenue. The AI uses the $400,000 sales forecast for Option 2. Try: Say: "Use $300,000 revenue for Option 2."
  • Recommending an option. The AI says 'go with Option 2'. Try: Add: "The CFO decides; do not recommend."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the five lines
  • Includes the ramp
  • Uses the right revenue
  • Bans recommendation
  • Caps length

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises