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Navigating Change: Bringing Clarity to Higher Ed Planning Timestamps Emerson College | Session Overview: Speakers:Richard Madonna | VP of Finance & CFOMichael Nicolescu | Director of Client Success 1:33 – Why Spreadsheets Weren't Enough 5:27 – Emerson's Example Scenarios 12:26 – The Importance of Visualization 13:55 – A Template for Other Higher Ed CFOs 15:26 […]

Modeling the Impact of Rising Healthcare Costs on Municipalities A municipal budget can balance in June and begin to unravel by fall. The health plan renewal comes in above forecast. Pharmacy claims jump. A retiree benefit assumption changes. Suddenly, money set aside for fleet replacement, road maintenance, or staffing has to cover a cost the […]

Capital Planning in Higher Ed: How to Align Your Plan with Operating Reality A large public university spent the better part of a year planning a new residence hall. The financing worked, construction stayed on schedule, and the building opened on time. There was just one problem: nobody told the campus shuttle service. When students […]

The Importance of Higher Education Tuition Modeling in a World of Increased Competition 5m Read By Stephen Beebe April 23, 2026 Higher education institutions are navigating one of the most challenging financial environments in recent memory. Enrollment pressure, rising discount rates, growing competition from alternative credentials, and increasing scrutiny of student loan costs are all […]

Why State and Local Governments Need Multi-Year Financial Planning Now 8 min read By Stephen Beebe | April 15, 2026 State and local governments are operating in what increasingly feels like a fiscal pressure cooker. Multiple forces are converging at once: tariff-driven economic uncertainty, potential federal funding reversals, shifts in Medicaid and SNAP cost sharing, […]

Higher Ed Finance in 2026: The Shift from Budgeting to Scenario Intelligence 5 min Read By Stephen Beebe | April 13, 2026 A recent Predictions for Higher Ed Finance Priorities in 2026 article by FuturED Finance captured much of what leaders are already feeling across the sector. Financial modeling is rising above cost restructuring; strategic […]

How to Perform Sensitivity Analysis in Higher Education Finance 10m Read By Stephen Beebe | April 8, 2026 Financial models serve as powerful instruments for evaluating the health and long-term sustainability of higher education institutions. But the sheer number of variables affecting projected outcomes, from enrollment trends to endowment performance to federal aid policy, can […]

PFM and DebtBook Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Technology Modernization for Governments and Nonprofits 2 Min Read We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with DebtBook, a leader in providing software solutions for government and nonprofit treasury and accounting teams. By combining our modern strategic financial planning software, PFM’s expertise of the public finance […]

How to Protect Your Higher Ed Institution From Black Swan Crises 5 min Read By Michael Nicolescu | January 26, 2026 Understanding high-risk crises and planning for them has never been more important in higher education. These events can take many forms, and their impacts may emerge suddenly or develop over time. Institutions that prepare […]

Aligning Student Retention & Higher Ed Financial Modeling: 5 Steps to Secure Enrollment 5 min Read By Michael Hayes | December 12, 2025 What is Student Retention?  The definition of student retention is simple: it’s a college or university’s ability to keep students enrolled from one academic term to the next through degree completion. But […]

Rate Modeling Meets Transparency: Building Public Trust Through Financial Clarity 7 Min Read By Jim Arms | October 30, 2025 Trust starts with transparency when it comes to public finances. Rate modeling helps municipalities, water authorities, and school districts move beyond spreadsheets and “just trust us” explanations to show exactly how decisions impact the community. […]

From Numbers to Action: A CFO’s Turnaround Toolkit for Higher Ed 10 min Read Higher education, particularly smaller private institutions, has faced significant challenges in recent years. Since 2016, more than 135 closures, mergers, and acquisitions have been announced, casting a shadow over an industry that, at its heart, exists to uplift and serve its […]

The Future of Power and Utilities Financial Modeling 7 Min Read The future is unpredictable, especially in industries as volatile and capital-intensive as power and utilities. Every strategic decision made today has long-term financial implications, from infrastructure investments to rate setting and regulatory compliance. To succeed, organizations need data-driven clarity. Financial modeling gives utilities and […]

How to Do Scenario Analysis in Excel 7m Read “What if…?” It’s a question every organization should ask and be able to answer with confidence. That’s the essence of scenario analysis: testing variables to better understand potential future outcomes. From capital investments to pricing strategies, decisions are stronger when you can see how they play […]

The Higher Education Enrollment Cliff: Financial Perspective Is Everything 8m Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | August 11, 2025 Five years after the global pandemic upended higher education, the industry is facing a new, mounting challenge: the enrollment cliff. And it’s no longer looming — it’s right around the corner. The number of college-age students in […]

How Higher Ed Institutions Use Scenario Analysis to Navigate Uncertainty 5m Read By Michael Hayes | July 20, 2025 What if, overnight, $25 million vanished from the revenue you oversee as a higher ed leader? Without any warning, a massive financial gap stares you in the face. It’s a crisis that could cripple even the […]

6 Common Methods Used in Financial Forecasting Models 10m Read By Michael Hayes | July 7, 2025 Leadership teams often wrestle with questions of profitability and growth. Even established businesses that aren’t yet profitable must be carefully guided toward long-term stability by skilled financial officers and decision-makers who keep the organization on a safe path. […]

Key Financial Drivers How Water Finance Leaders can Plan for PFAS, LCRI Mandates & More Whitepaper Download What Happens When Government Mandates Outpace Your Capital Plan? Public water utilities are facing a new wave of financial pressure. With federally mandated PFAS limits and lead service line (LSL) replacements required by 2029 and 2034, respectively. The […]

The New Athletic Fee Era: What Finance Leaders Need to Know About Student Funding, Revenue Sharing, and Risk Exposure 5 min Read A New Fiscal Era for College Sports  College athletics is undergoing a seismic financial shift. Beginning in 2025, many U.S. institutions—especially public universities—rolled out new athletic fees or increasing existing ones. These changes […]

When Millions Disappear Overnight How Higher Ed Can Build a Legacy of Financial Resilience Through Scenario Analysis Whitepaper Download What would your institution do if $25 million disappeared tomorrow? Higher education is navigating an era of volatility—from federal funding cuts and enrollment declines to rising infrastructure costs and shifting demographics. Scenario analysis isn’t just a […]

What Higher Ed Finance Can LearnFrom Bridge Builders, Civil Engineers, and Rocket Scientists 5 min Read What is Modeling?  At its core, modeling is the practice of creating a simplified representation of a real-world system to better understand how it functions and how it might respond to future conditions. Whether it’s structural engineers stress-testing skyscrapers […]

Don’t Let Deferred Maintenance Seize Your Institution’s Revenue Engine  5 min Read Keep Your Higher Ed Institution Running Smoothly  You’ve invested significantly in your car—not just financially, but in the role it plays in your daily life. It enhances your quality of life, provides utility, and offers independence. Given how much you’ve already invested, it […]

The Net Tuition Revenue Iceberg  Uncovering the Hidden Risks to Net Tuition Revenue and Financial Sustainability 5 min Read What's below the surface of enrollment trends?  Enrollment is up, but what’s beneath the surface?Many institutions are celebrating record enrollments for fall 2024, but does this signal long-term financial health? A deeper look into the data […]

Strategic Budgeting for Sustainable Missions  A Step-by-Step Guide for Higher Ed Institutions During Budget Season 5 min Read A Focus on Sustainable Budgeting  Budget season is a pivotal time for higher education institutions to align resources with strategic priorities and ensure financial sustainability. With challenges like fluctuating enrollment and shifting funding landscapes, institutions need actionable […]

Overcoming Inaction in Higher Ed Finance with Financial Modeling 5 min Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | December 9, 2024 Four Perils of Inaction in Higher Ed Finance  Making decisions in higher education can be hard. It’s a complex landscape with many potential stop gaps to progress. There are many reasons why finance teams may not […]

In-House Services, A Financial and Operational Overview for Municipalities Timestamps West Whiteland Township | Session Overview: Speakers:Caroline Partridge | Finance Director and CFOPamela Gural-Bear | Township Manager 0:13 – Introduction of West Whiteland Township Speakers 2:15 – Why West Whiteland is Analyzing the Cost of In-House Services 3:50 – About West Whiteland Township and It's […]

The Power of Streamlined Modeling for Water Utilities Timestamps Eastern Municipal Water District | Session Overview: Speakers:Donna Kiminki | Financial ManagerKendra Sotelo | Senior Financial AnalystRebeca Robles | Financial Analyst II 0:12 – Speaker Introductions for Eastern Municipal Water District 2:06 -Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Overview 2:13 – Development and Financial Structure of EMWD […]

Optimized Budgeting and Reporting for Higher Education Timestamps Virginia Commonwealth University | Session Overview: Speakers:David Patrick | Director of Budget, Analysis and Financial PlanningBrian Brennan | Budget Analyst 0:12 – Speaker Introductions for Virginia Commonwealth University 1:04 – Overview of VCU and Student Demographics. 2:00 – VCU's Operating Budget Breakdown 2:53 – Revenue Sources and […]

High-Risk Crises in Higher Education | Gray Rhino Events 5 min Read By Michael Nicolescu | October 1, 2024 Gray Rhino Events in Higher Education Higher ed finance leaders are tasked with safeguarding their institution against impending crises of all kinds. Understanding and planning for these high-risk crises helps to reduce their impact and turn […]

How Institutions Can Survive the Enrollment Cliff Whitepaper Download 9 actionable tactics to future-proof your institution. The higher education industry is watching with baited breath to see what future the enrollment cliff holds. We ask “why wait?” The landscape of higher education is shifting, with declining enrollments posing significant challenges. But your institution’s future doesn’t […]

The State of Higher Ed Finance Survey Report 5 min Read By Michael Hayes | August 9, 2024 The State of Higher Ed Finance As a higher education business leader, you need to keep your finger on the pulse of both your own financial picture and the industry as a whole. In a climate that […]

Free your organization from the curse of wishful thinking:Applying a financial framework to strategic planning 5 min Read Strategic Planning It’s a practice that’s fairly common these days. Having a vision not only helps with organizational alignment, but it also helps to prioritize tasks and streamline operational organization. Having a true north or two in […]

The Top 5 FP&A Software Tools in 2024 5min Read Choosing the best FP&A Software for long-term success. As technology grows so do our options. That’s a good thing, right? Well, sometimes! With the freedom of choice comes more challenging decision making. When it comes to FP&A software, different platforms serve or fulfill different functions. […]

AI in Finance, Maximizing Opportunityand Mitigating Risk 5 min Read Powerful, TransformativeDivisive, Risky? AI is indeed an evocative term, encompassing a wide spectrum of implications. Its influence is increasingly felt across global industries, from operations planning and finance to the legal sector. In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive examination of AI, exploring […]

The “All-In-One” Budgeting and Forecasting Fallacy 5 min Read The “All-In-One” Budgeting & Forecasting Fallacy:Why your FP&A Technology Choices Should Incorporate Best-of-Breed Thinking Budgeting and long-range financial planning are distinct disciplines, each serving unique purposes within an organization's financial management strategy. There are key differences between the two processes and many reasons why an organization […]

Six Tips to Keep Your Financial Mission Sustainable in 2024 5 min Read By Michael Hayes | February 1, 2024 Keeping Your Financial Mission Sustainable,Easier Said Than Done. Financial missions are the road map by which we conduct our day-to-day operations. They inform our FP&A as well as our intra-organizational philosophies. So, how can we […]

Six Tips to Help You Get a Full Field View of Your Finances 2 min Read By Michael Hayes | November 2, 2023 Football & FinanceMore in common than you think Full field view – very simply, see more of what's going on, and be able to do more. Pivot more easily and adapt to […]

Taking Transit Finance to New Heights Taking Transit Finance to New Heights It's no secret that there's been lots of adversity in the transit finance world over the last few years. Agencies are still feeling the effects of ridership reduction and policy changes brought about by the pandemic.  As CFO, Mark Schofield has helped to […]

Unlocking the Value of Fintech in Higher Education The Value of Fintech in Higher Education We sat down with CFOs Samantha Gallagher from Fort Lewis College and Dr. Michael Horan of Worcester Polytechnic Institute to talk about the value that fintech can bring to higher education finance. They walk us through their use cases, from […]

A History of Collaborative Success, Synario + Saint Michael's College 2 min Read, 25 min Watch Success, how do you make it last? What does it take to maintain, and nurture a financial mission through adversity and unforeseen circumstances? We sat down recently with VP of Finance and Administration, Robert Robinson to discuss how he, […]

Unveiling the Power of Three-Statement Financial Models 5 min Read Financial modeling is a pivotal discipline in the world of finance, and at its core lies a potent instrument known as the three-statement financial model. It serves as a multifaceted prism through which one can discern a company's financial health and performance by seamlessly amalgamating […]

Digital Transformation in Financial Planning & Analysis 5 min Read Over the past few years, finance has been entering a golden age of technology. More and more organizations are utilizing cloud-based tools company-wide to streamline their operational processes, thus increasing efficiency and collaboration across departments. Pressure is mounting for financial leadership all over to break […]

The Future of Financial Planning: Where Synario Outshines Spreadsheets and Why 3 min Read In the world of financial planning and analysis, accurate forecasting and scenario modeling are crucial for making informed business decisions. While spreadsheets have long been a staple tool in this domain, a new contender has emerged to revolutionize the way organizations […]

We Asked, You Answered. The State of Higher Ed Finance. 2min Read What if you had the power to know what your colleagues and even competition were thinking? Knowing how others in your field feel about the same challenges that you face can be enlightening. We all know thought in a vacuum isn't as impactful […]

Synario Announces New President: Brandon Rosenbluth 1 min Read On July 25, 2023, Brett Matteo resigned from his long-standing position as President of Synario. We truly appreciate Brett for all of his contributions as the leader of Synario, and he will continue to support the company as a Managing Director at this time. Taking up […]

Is Your Financial Mission Sustainable? 2 min Read In the dynamic landscape of business today, organizations are increasingly focused on achieving financial mission sustainability. This vital principle not only allows them to make a significant impact but also ensures their long-term financial well-being. The ability to strike a balance between fulfilling organizational goals and maintaining […]

St. Louis MSD Case Study Unlocking Success: St. Louis MSD's Revolutionary Leap with Synario for Streamlined Financial Modeling 2 min Read Metropolitan Saint Louis Sewer District (MSD) is a prominent organization specializing in wastewater treatment and drainage services in the Saint Louis area. With over 21 years of experience at MSD, Mike Gindler, Assistant Director […]

Building a Sustainable Financial Modeling Process 2 min Read Key Tips and Best Practices In today's dynamic business environment, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of financial modeling as a crucial tool for informed decision-making. A well-designed financial model provides valuable insights into an organization's financial health, helps track progress toward goals, and enables effective […]

Improving Happiness Through Your Work Processes 5min Read In the fast-paced world of finance, it's easy to get caught up in the never-ending cycle of work. We are always looking for ways to improve our company's bottom line, and sometimes our work-life balance is negatively impacted because of this. It’s important, though, to remember that […]

Exploring the Impact of New Initiatives How St. Ambrose University Leveraged Synario to Acquire New Programs 5 min Read Like many higher education institutions, St. Ambrose University noticed declining enrollment trends in their traditional undergraduate and graduate programs. To make attendance more accessible, they offered tuition discounts – particularly for undergraduate students. However, the financial […]

Multi-Year Financial Planning: A Strategic Advantage Why Long-Term Planning Outperforms Short-Term Planning in the Long Run 5 min Read Evidence suggests companies that engage in multi-year financial planning tend to outperform their peers in certain areas. A study by McKinsey & Company found that companies that engage in long-term planning tend to have higher revenue […]

Austin Water's Case Study Austin Water: Refreshing The Status Quo 6 min Read Highlights from Austin Water's use of Synario Austin Water spent 3–4 months each year building out its annual forecast and budget in Excel and 1–2 weeks preparing PowerPoint presentations. If decision-makers wanted to see alternative scenarios, they had to go back to […]

  The Importance of Goal Setting for FP&A 3 min Read Setting goals is integral to running any successful business and can provide clarity and motivation for you and your team. Specific growth targets must be present in every business plan and are essential to successful business operations. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is a […]

Using FP&A Technology to Overcome Higher Education’s Biggest Challenges 5 min Read Download the Ebook! In 2024, higher education businesses are facing an unprecedented range of challenging issues that could have far-reaching impacts on the success of their organizations. These issues include a continued decline in enrollment, rising operational costs with gaps in revenue, increased […]

  Scenario Analysis vs. Sensitivity Analysis Which Method Should You Use? 5 min Read Life – as well as running a business – is full of uncertainty. That said, there are various methods you can use to assess risk in order to keep an organization on track to attaining its financial goals, despite unexpected obstacles. […]

Exploring Multiple Scenarios How a Daunting Task Can Become An Exciting Exploratory Approach 5 min Read Scenario analysis is a method used to analyze the impacts of future events by investigating possible outcomes (or scenarios) – and using these findings to assess and minimize risk while accelerating innovation. Scenario analysis helps business leaders be prepared for […]

The Beginners Guide to Modeling Intelligence 10 min Read Download the Ebook! In business and in life, we must always prepare for the unexpected. But coming up with the right contingency plans is easier said than done— especially if you don’t have the best tools for the job. Risk analysis is difficult at the best […]

Setting Up Scenarios in Today’s Environment By Brandon Rosenbluth | November 29, 2022 Thinking Through Scenarios How do you create scenarios when performing a scenario analysis? Listen in as Brandon Rosenbluth, President of Synario, gives his step-by-step guide to creating financial scenarios in the current environment. Understand key drivers in the creation of strategic initiatives […]

4 Macro Factors Driving Higher CFO Investment in Fintech Solutions 4 Macro Factors Driving Higher CFO Investment in Fintech Solutions For the past few years, the Finance function has been impacted by the same global macroeconomic events that have impacted everyone and redefined work as we know it.  Meanwhile, the CFO role has become far […]

4 High Expectations for Tomorrow's CFO's and Leaders 4 High Expectations for Tomorrow's CFO's and Leaders There was once a time in distant memory when CFOs just had to keep track of and report on “the numbers.” Warren Buffett vaguely remembers this time with a wistful sense of nostalgia. Probably. But those bygone expectations aren’t […]

City of Sacramento – Department of Utilities Financial Modeling for Sacramento Utilities Does your Agency want to be able to run funding scenarios during meetings with real time results and charts, and project out for future years (e.g., 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, etc.)? If the answer is yes, prepare your decision makers to […]

Lehigh University – Jim Quinn How Agile Planning Can Lead to Financial Stability Jim Quinn is the Director of Financial Planning at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. One of the nation's most distinguished private research universities today, this institution was founded in 1865 and is inherently linked to America's rise as an industrial power.  However, […]

Keynote Speaker – Avish Parashar  Ding Happens! Planning is important, but improvising is essential! See how the art of improv comedy can improve how you handle changes in your business with our guest speaker, Motivational Improviser Avish Parashar! Through his deft improvisational techniques and stories, Avish shares the importance of open-mindedness in communication through the […]

Sabra – Sarah Mazur Maximizing Scenario Analysis in the Real Estate Space See how Synario has accelerated Sabra’s efforts to leverage financial modeling to analyze the impact of property acquisitions and dispositions! Sabra's own Sarah Mazur gives us an in-depth look into their concerns, opportunities, and processes on their path to better decision making through […]

Modeling Intelligence for the Modern CFO 10 min Read Download the Ebook! This guide teaches you how to escape the decision making spiral and establish yourself as a trusted business advisor within the organization. Explore the benefits of eliminating static planning processes and establishing an agile modeling environment that encourages collaborative conversations across teams, enables […]

How to Make Confident Decisions: Avoid the 4 Risks of Inaction 5 min Read Download our Whitepaper! Being proactive and maintaining a disciplined yet flexible business strategy can help organizations better handle turbulence and fuel growth even during economic turmoil. But to resist inaction, it’s important first to understand what constitutes inaction. What causes it […]

How Extended Planning & Analysis (XP&A) Can Grow Your Business 5m Read By synario | September 29, 2022 What is extended planning & analysis? Although Gartner officially coined the term in 2020, the ideas and concepts behind XP&A have been around for some time. What we now call XP&A has previously been referred to as “connective planning,” “collaborative enterprise […]

Build a Brighter Financial Future with Purpose-Built Financial Modeling 5 min Read Learn more about Synario with our digital brochure Synario is an agile financial modeling platform, offering transformative intelligence that helps visionary business leaders achieve new levels of clarity, credibility and consensus. Learn how your organization could escape its endless decision cycles by using Synario Download our […]

3 Key Steps to Financial Flexibility and Business Agility 5m Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | August 10, 2022 Despite the pandemic’s sweeping economic impact, companies that were quick to adapt to the “new normal” came out better than before. Resilient, successful companies know how and when to jump at unexpected chances. That’s why adopting an […]

  Informed Decision Making: Knowing Which Actions to Avoid 5 min Read The Cost of a Bad Decision Business leaders are faced with the daily challenge of making big decisions that are critical to the success of their venture. However, a recent survey reported that more than 70 percent of executives believe that bad operational […]

How to Make Confident Decisions: Avoid The 4 Risks of Inaction 5 min Read JFK once said, “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.” Decades later, his words still ring true—especially for businesses. Inaction can be a tempting course to take. Maintaining the […]

  The Discipline of Strategy Management 5 min Read Most organizations and their management have high expectations of achieving goals set during strategic planning meetings. But to be achievable, a well-executed strategy requires forethought, planning, and precise incremental steps of action. Often, companies struggle to bridge the gap between their lofty strategic plans and their […]

High Risk Crises Keep Coming. Can You Afford Them? 3 min Read BY MICHAEL NICOLESCU Global pandemics. Social uprising. International wars. Mass resignations. Cultural shifts in the workplace. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a significant amount of change in the world – change that has a direct impact on you, your business, and […]

HIGHLIGHTFinancial Planning Workshop for Non-Finance Stakeholders This is a highlight from Wofford College’s presentation at Synario’s 2020 Virtual Solutions Summit where they showcased how they used Synario to create an interactive workshop to help non-finance stakeholders at the university better understand how their financial planning and budgeting process operates.

5 Strategies for Building a Culture of Accountability 5m Read It has become increasingly challenging to foster effective communication and manage delegated tasks and responsibilities in the modern work era. That’s why cultivating a culture of accountability within your organization is key to overall success. Not only will an accountable workforce perform better, but this […]

5 Tips For Securing Buy-In From The Boss And Beyond 5m Read Buy-in is a crucial part of any company’s success. Securing buy-in can help provide support for any future projects, proposals, or improvements within your company. It can also lead to increased operational excellence, understanding, and trust across all levels of your organization.  Getting […]

HIGHLIGHTAn Organized Approach to Financial Modeling In this highlight from Austin Water’s presentation at Synario’s 2021 Virtual Solutions Summit, Christina 'Tina' Romero discusses how they utilized Synario to organize their financial forecasting process and facilitate clear communication between their finance team and key decision-makers.

Scenario Planning: 4 Scenarios to Evaluate Now 5m Read The pandemic caught everyone off guard. We all hoped for a return to normalcy once vaccines began to roll out across the globe, then the Delta wave hit… then Omicron. Each cycle of optimism was met with a harsh reality of a new variant.  Every segment […]

Know Who You Are 2m Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | January 31, 2022 As the pandemic enters its third year, companies are forced to take a step back and evaluate who they are, how they fit in the marketplace, and how to position themselves for success in the coming years. No business can afford to […]

How to Create a Powerul Purpose-Statement 5m Read By synario | January 19, 2022 Click image to enlarge  What is the purpose of your company (or Team)? If you’re running an enterprise company, higher education institution, or a team within an organization, we’re sure you’ve given this question a lot of thought. But, like most […]

SNEAK PEEKSynario's New FO Designer Always innovating, Synario’s cloud-based financial modeling software brings their clients a new way to write formulas and build logic, making modeling easier than ever.

Cultivating Collaboration: Eliminating Errors and Miscommunication in Modeling 5 min Read In this video from Synario's 2021 Virtual Solutions Summit.  Austin Water knew from the start they were going to focus on long-term Revenue, Fund, Debt, and Capital projections and they knew they needed a team of people to be successful. They will share the […]

Communicating With Clarity: Showcasing Your Strategy With Synario 10m Read 5-year planning at a top-25 institution The Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, technology-focused university based in Chicago. Voted one of the top 25 STEM colleges by Forbes in 2018, IIT is number one in Illinois for lifting students from families in the bottom […]

HIGHLIGHT A Cloud-based Strategic Plan In this highlight from IIT’s presentation at Synario’s 2021 Virtual Solutions Summit, Mike and Mary Ellen discuss how they utilized Synario to foster communication among their finance team and university stakeholders when creating their institution’s strategic plan.

VIDEO Communicating With Clarity: Showcasing Your Strategy With Synario In this video from Synario's 2021 Virtual Solutions Summit. IIT reviews the different array of audiences where Synario is a key factor in the discussion. From sharing with Faculty and Staff for developing buy-in to presenting to Investors when refinancing debt, interactive and engaging presentations enable […]

5 Steps Your Contingency Planning Should Include 4m Read For millennia, lighthouses have guided ships safely out to sea or into harbor. They’ve served as crucial navigational tools to avoid disasters.  While you may not be a sailor, you still need lighthouses (metaphorically speaking). After all, you have an organization to run. And you need […]

Why You’re Doing Sales Forecasting All Wrong 10m Read Organizations use sales forecasting to predict the amount of revenue they can expect over a period of time. To make a sales forecast, organizations rely on historical data, market research, and sales team performance estimates.  Accurate sales forecasting helps organizations maintain healthy growth and can improve […]

Why Workforce Planning Software is Essential for Your Organization 10m Read The role of technology increasingly influences the modern economy. Instead of replacing humans as once feared, industry leaders are instead finding ways to leverage new tools and rich data-driven insights to guide the optimization of their organization’s workforce.  Competition is fierce and agile; forward-looking […]

What is Cash Flow Analysis and Why Does it Matter? 9m Read By synario | November 23, 2021 Every business worries about cash flow—after all, it’s the lifeblood of everything from factories to hospitals, startups to multinational companies.  Cash flow statements help decision-makers visualize an organization’s financial health: including revenue, expenditures, investments, liquidity, and more.  […]

What is Sensitivity Analysis in Finance? 10m Read Despite the benefits that financial modeling brings to analysts and decision-makers, modeling is never 100% accurate. Even if you account for every possible variable, there’s still no way to predict the future with complete accuracy. This is why financial institutions often use sensitivity analysis to “stress-test” their […]

Sensitivity and Risk Analysis Techniques Every Business Owner Should Know 10m Read Sensitivity analysis aims to eliminate uncertainty about the future by modeling financial risks and decisions. Also called what-if analysis, this type of analysis examines how changes in inputs affect outputs. The process helps with long-term decision-making.  Sensitivity analysis is a vital part of […]

Managing Student Outcomes By Modeling Financial and Strategic Challenges 10m Read Many industries have been hit hard by the onset of COVID-19, and the higher education sector is no exception. Institutions face a range of complex issues, including increased competition, capped fee structures, excessive student loan debt, and reduced international student demand.  There is a […]

How to Do a Cash Flow Analysis in Excel 10m Read Businesses have bills to pay. But as sales and expenses are constantly in flux, so is the amount of cash a business has to make these payments.  Cash flow analysis gives companies and stakeholders alike a snapshot of cash-on-hand, enabling them to better understand […]

Get More Out of Cash Flow Statement Analysis 10m Read Remember Cuba Gooding Jr.’s line in Jerry Maguire? “Show me the money!”  Well, that’s essentially what a cash flow statement does. Vital to examining an organization's liquidity and financial sustainability, cash flow statements show exactly how a business generates and spends cash. All organizations—from universities […]

Sensitivity Analysis Examples: Learn How to Take Control of the Future 10m Read Every financial model has multiple assumptions. That means the future could hold a range of possibilities, depending on how those assumptions change.  The problem is predicting any of these possibilities with accuracy. And when left unsure of your business’s future, your control […]

A Beginner’s Guide to Small Business Financial Modeling 10m Read Today’s small businesses are in a volatile and unpredictable environment like never before. Government guidelines are limiting business operations. Customer demand is in flux due to public health concerns. No one knows when we might have a COVID-19 vaccine. In other words, it’s now more […]

The Tool HBCUs Need to Invest for Long-Term Success 5m Read By synario | September 16, 2021 The higher education sector has been hit hard by COVID-19, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). From increased competition and capped fee structures to excessive student loan debt and reduced international student demand, institutions face many complex […]

Advice for Higher Ed! Wisely Ride the Bond Wave to a Healthy Financial Future 5m Read The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the higher education sector hard. Facing economic difficulties and eyeing low rates, colleges and universities have turned to taxable bond issuance, issuing a record amount of bonds in 2020. As colleges and universities continue […]

How the Fed and World Leading Organizations Use Scenario Analysis and Financial Modeling 5m Read By synario | September 16, 2021 The Federal Reserve (‘the Fed’) is the central bank of the United States. It is tasked with providing the nation with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system. This is obviously a […]

Why You Need a Cash Flow Analysis Template 5m Read By synario | August 3, 2021 82% of small businesses fail because they don’t manage cash flow well enough, according to a U.S. Bank Study. You can’t ignore cash flow at any stage.  Even big organizations can collapse due to cash flow issues. For instance, […]

Price Elasticity Models and Optimizations 8m Read Price elasticity refers to the property that the price of an object will influence the number of units sold. In general, higher prices mean fewer sales, and lower prices mean more sales. If you chart price and units sold, you can draw a line with a negative slope […]

Acquisition Planning in Business Explained 5m Read By synario | July 26, 2021 In today’s business world, there are more large-scale acquisitions than ever before. In a competitive and increasingly financially constrained environment, businesses across all industries are pursuing new ventures.   However, instead of building from scratch, many businesses choose to acquire existing operations […]

Workforce Planning Software: How to Put Your HR Data to Work 6m Read By synario | July 21, 2021 Workforce planning is the process of planning for current and future employment needs. If a company was preparing to launch a new product, its HR team would need to identify the capabilities of its existing team, […]

Escape Your Endless Decision Cycles 15 min Read Escape the Cycle of Constant Model Building and Analysis What do many organizations have in common? The endless cycles of financial model building, analysis, and rebuilding due to new questions or constraints. Learn how your organization could escape its endless decision cycles in this new ebook from […]

Utility Modeling SeriesOperational Planning 4m Video Utility Financial Modeling – Streamlined Operational Planning in Synario Operational planning and utility rate analysis is a critical step in forecasting sustainability for a utility company. Oftentimes, these two planning functions are performed within a spreadsheet-based financial model, which can limit or completely stifle the ability to analyze the […]

Why You Need a Cash Flow Analysis Template 6m Read By synario | June 25, 2021 82% of small businesses fail because they don’t manage cash flow well enough, according to a U.S. Bank Study. You can’t ignore cash flow at any stage.  Even big organizations can collapse due to cash flow issues. For instance, […]

4 Tips to Get The Most Out of Your Cash Flow Software 6m Read By synario | June 23, 2021 Why do they say cash is king?  It’s because no organization can survive without healthy cash flows.  We saw that firsthand in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic destroyed cash flow for many businesses, especially retail […]

Collaborating with Colleagues 5m Read By synario | June 18, 2021 Watch the Webcast This article was adapted and expanded from the Creating and Enabling Leadership Teams webcast presented to the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. View the Recording Problems Faced By Today's Leaders One of the most difficult aspects of working […]

Financial Modeling Accuracy: Best Practices Guide 5m Read Your yearly annual review process presents a critical opportunity to make improvements—to learn what went wrong, what went as planned, and what worked better than expected. This is especially vital now, in the wake of a year marked by tough and unexpected challenges. It is imperative now, […]

How Incrementalism Drives Sustainable Financial Modeling 5m Read Intuitively, we know that small changes—whether improvements or deteriorations—can have significant impacts, given enough time. Making minor but effective changes is much more practical than relying on a once-in-a-lifetime breakthrough or taking asymmetric risks with low chances of high payoffs.  Success, therefore, usually arises from small gains […]

Beyond Implementation Making the Most of Synario 4m Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | June 16, 2021 The Planning Process Synario implementation is an exciting time to discover how your organization will become more agile and adaptable now that you have left labor-intensive spreadsheets behind. Our team is here to help guide you through the transition […]

Financial Planning During the Pandemic 1hr Watch Universities did not anticipate a black swan event with an impact to the degree we have experienced during this pandemic. From our presentation at WACUBO 2021, this session discusses how financial planning and sophisticated models helped Oregon State University navigate the financial impacts of the pandemic. Watch Now […]

Cash Flow Analysis Examples: How to Analyze Your Cash Flow Statement 9m Read By synario | June 7, 2021 As a business leader, it’s crucial to see how money moves in and out of your company—especially before making any sweeping decisions that will affect your organization.  After all, if you commit to a new project […]

Utility Modeling SeriesCapital Funding & Improvement Planning 3m Video Utility Financial Modeling – Accelerated Capital Planning in Synario Balancing a utility capital plan can be like walking a moving tightrope while carrying weights that keep on changing. Often times, utility finance professionals cannot reasonably plan every improvement and purchase that their utility needs in a […]

Free Download FREE EXCEL STUDENT COHORT ANALYSIS TEMPLATE This cohort analysis model is a useful tool for cohort management and enrollment behavior analysis. Download Your Free Enrollment Planning Model Now. FREE EXCEL COHORT ANALYSIS TEMPLATE Below are screenshots of the cohort analysis template: The Value of Cohort Analysis The more power you have built into […]

Driving Organizational Excellence With Strategic Modeling and Accountability 6m Read Every organizational leader looks for new ways to improve their business and operations over time. There are many approaches to achieving competitive success. However, every strategy focuses on delivering the same internal result: organizational excellence. While the definition of ‘excellence’ varies from business to business […]

Business Risk Analysis Explained 6m Read By synario | April 30, 2021 Running a business carries several risks. Some hazards can destroy a business, while others can lead to severe damage, which can be time-consuming and costly to repair. Business risk management and analysis help illuminate the risk factors in a business, allowing business leaders […]

The Importance of Sales Forecasting 6m Read By synario | April 28, 2021 Sales forecasting is a critical business exercise that creates sales projections and business forecasts for the future. Accurate sales forecasts help business leaders make important decisions about budgeting, hiring, goal-setting, marketing, and other actions that impact cash flow. Inaccurate sales predictions and […]

Contingency Planning: Effective Tips & Strategies 6m Read By synario | April 26, 2021 What if you return from a conference to find your entire executive team has caught COVID-19? What if your biggest customer decides to do business with a competitor? What if a hurricane destroys your workplace, leaving your business unable to function? […]

In-Person vs. Remote Mega Analysis:American Rescue Plan Impacts 3m Video Modeling College and University Faculty, Staff, and Salary Changes In the final video of Synario's In-Person vs. Remote Mega-Analysis, we will show how Synario can model new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan and layer in the student, auxiliary, personnel, endowment, and gifts impacts […]

A Real-World Financial Forecasting Example That’s Easy to Understand 10m Read Without a crystal ball, financial forecasting is your best bet to see into the future of your business. While an imperfect science, forecasting is how companies project things like growth, budgets, new hires, acquisitions, and macroeconomic conditions (just to name a few).  As you […]

2035 Carbon Neutrality: Using Agile Modeling to Win the Race to Carbon Neutral 15 min Read   The race for utility leaders to meet net-zero carbon pledges by as early as 2030–and how agile scenario model-ing will get them there. In the last 15 years, the United State’s stance on environmentalism has been inconsistent, to […]

What Is Model Sensitivity in Sensitivity Analysis? 8m Read By synario | April 2, 2021 Anyone looking to leverage financial modeling at their company should understand sensitivity analysis. Also known as “what if” analysis, this modeling technique allows you to preview a wide range of outcomes under different circumstances. Naturally, a key component of this […]

In-Person vs. Remote Mega Analysis:Endowment Returns and Annual Giving 3m Video Modeling Changes to Endowment Returns, Utilization, and Annual Giving The fourth video in Synario's in-person vs. remote mega-analysis series, this video layers in alternative projections for endowment returns and utilization rates, as well as decreases in annual giving associated with the financial impacts of […]

What is Sensitivity Analysis and How Can It Help Your Organization? 10m Read By synario | March 26, 2021 What if you had the power to see every possible outcome of your business decisions and confidently make decisions about your organization’s financial future? Building an agile organization capable of withstanding and adjusting to ever-changing market […]

In-Person vs. Remote Mega Analysis:Personnel Impacts 3m Video Modeling College and University Faculty, Staff, and Salary Changes In the third video of Synario's In-Person vs. Remote Mega-Analysis, we will cover how personnel changes for in-person v remote teaching scenarios can impact your institution's operating margin. As described in the video, personnel impacts arise from three […]

In-Person vs. Remote Mega Analysis:Auxiliary Impacts 3m Video Modeling College and University Housing and Dining In our second video for the In-Person vs. Remote Mega-Analysis, we will look at the financial impacts associated with institutional auxiliary revenues such as housing and dining. Higher education auxiliary revenues are one of the most fiscally impacted areas when […]

In-Person vs. Remote Mega Analysis:Student Impacts 5m Read Modeling the Student Impact Scenarios In our first video for the In-Person vs. Remote Mega-Analysis, we will model the student changes associated with in-person and remote teaching scenarios at an example college or university. The analysis includes modeling various levels of student retention, tuition growth rates, and […]

What is Strategic Planning? 5m Read By synario | March 9, 2021 A strategic planning framework is essential in any industry. For example, strategic planning in healthcare is essential to improving patient care quality. That said, what is strategic planning? Simply put, strategic planning is the business practice of creating a long-term plan that will […]

Financial Visibility: Profit and Loss Statements Explained 5m Read “Did I make money, or not?” “What is a P&L statement?” These are tough questions for anyone who runs a business. However, if you want your business to be successful, determining profitability is critical. This is where profit and loss statements come in. What is a […]

What Is Scenario Analysis and How Can It Future-Proof Your Business? 5m Read Every company on earth wants a “future-proof” business model. But unless you have a working time machine that can take you to the future, there's no way to enjoy complete certainty over what tomorrow will bring.  That's why there's scenario analysis—the next […]

Financial Planning for the Non-Finance Stakeholder 5m Read In this highlights video from our 2020 Virtual Solutions Summit, Wofford College’s CFO Chris Gardner and Provost Mike Sosulski go over how they utilized Synario to craft a budget workshop designed for non-finance colleagues to develop a greater appreciation for the trade-offs needed to maintain a strong […]

The Importance of Reliable Scenario Analysis in Financial Forecasting 9m Read Finance and scenario analysis go hand in hand. As research from Stanford University summarizes, finance aims to utilize money efficiently. And the efficient use of money depends on two things: allocating capital wisely and successfully planning for a variety of possibilities. While this may sound simple, […]

Transitioning From Excel to Synario – An Infographic Overview 8m Read Financial Modeling Software That Fits Your Skillset Without other software options, spreadsheets have been the go-to choice for financial modelers for over two decades. Even with an abundance of errors and usability issues, many modelers and CFOs are hesitant to transition away from spreadsheets […]

SMART Goal Setting in Synario 7 Min Read Setting goals is the first step to getting the most out of your Synario financial model. Without measurable goals, your planning can quickly become directionless, easily swayed to show unrealistic or unattainable future scenarios. At Synario, we help clients set SMART goals, standing for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, […]

Synario A Finalist in 2020-21 Cloud Awards 3 min Read [LOCATION] – 17 December 2020 – Synario has been declared a finalist this week in the international Cloud Computing Awards program, The Cloud Awards. Since 2011, The Cloud Awards has sought to promote and celebrate excellence and innovation in cloud computing. Entries are accepted throughout the […]

What Is a Base Case Evaluation? 5m Read Financial planning is essential to any business’s survival. Companies need to understand how their sales, cash flow, profits, and more will look in the future. The biggest problem is that the future is uncertain. Anything is possible. How can companies mitigate risks and foresee future financial trajectories […]

How to Calculate Marginal Cost: A Step-by-Step Guide 7m Read The concept of marginal cost can be difficult for business owners to understand. However, understanding how to calculate marginal cost is essential to good forecasting and business management. With that in mind, we’ve created a step-by-step guide detailing everything from the importance of marginal costs […]

Scenario Building: What You Need to Know 10m Read The concept of “analysis paralysis” is all too familiar to any of us who’ve had to make critical decisions. Like staring up at a starry night sky, the number of possibilities—both choices and outcomes—can seem limitless. We can end up feeling very small. Having too many […]

Scenario Planning Example: How to Plan for Any Future 10m Read Amid a pandemic rife with uncertainty, most of us can agree that important decisions (especially those involving money) should be made using concrete data and careful analysis—not intuition or “gut feeling.”  But this isn’t always easy. For one thing, the data you need to make crucial […]

An In-Depth Scenario Analysis Example 10m Read The benefits of scenario analyses cannot be underestimated. By considering different outcomes, companies can understand the impact and feasibility of decisions that range from hiring new employees to investing in new equipment.  And what better way to understand scenario analyses than to look at an in-depth example? Let’s […]

The Scenario Planning Template You Should Be Using 10m Read F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” Organizations using scenario planning to identify and analyze potential futures need to keep Fitzgerald’s quote in […]

What You Need to Know About Discounted Cash Flow Analysis 10m Read By synario | March 1, 2021 When the world is so unpredictable, how can you know whether a capital project or investment will succeed in the long term? In 2020 alone, we’ve seen the COVID-19 pandemic create massive devastation and uncertainty. Wildfires have […]

How to Calculate Retained Earnings 8m Read As you review financial news or reports, you might ask questions like: “What are retained earnings?”  “What is the retained earnings equation?” Understanding retained earnings is an important concept in long term financial planning.  Companies need to know what their retained earnings are so they can plan for […]

Scenario Planning in Strategic Management 10m Read The only thing that’s certain is that life, and business, are uncertain. So, why do businesses often overlook uncertainty in strategic management?  This leaves your organization open to being blindsided. We’ve seen this happen with the COVID-19 pandemic. From local restaurants and gyms to big names like Neiman […]

Higher Ed: Communicating Endowment Returns 3m Read Financial Modeling Supports Strategic Conversations In the world of higher education, strategic planning around endowment returns is a critical component of a fruitful financial future. Modeling endowment scenarios helps analyze different trajectories your endowment funds could take. However, that analysis means very little if it cannot be communicated […]

Futures Thinking and Scenario Planning 10m Read Nobody has a crystal ball. So, how do you plan for an uncertain future? The answer is through futures thinking and scenario planning. When used correctly together, these two tools can help prepare you for the unexpected and put you in a position to achieve the best potential outcomes. […]

Navigating the COVID-19 Rollercoaster 7m Read COVID-19 has changed the business world forever. From working from home to school campus closures, the coronavirus has altered every organization no matter the industry or sector. During the Synario Client Summit, three finance professionals discussed how they projected and reacted to both internal and external changes to their […]

How Telecom Financial Modeling Software Helps Companies Stay Competitive 8m Read By synario | February 26, 2021 Financial modeling is imperative for any business: it allows its users to understand the company’s current positioning and future trajectory. Company executives, in particular, use models to draw data-driven conclusions on the best direction to take their business.  However, […]

The Value of Multiple Users in Synario 8m Read Unlike Excel, Synario is a collaborative application. Users are encouraged to add their opinions and perspectives to a model because Synario was developed with the understanding that multiple inputs generally yield a view of the future that is greater than the sum of its parts. When […]

Higher Education: Navigating the New Normal Post-COVID-19 15 min Read Navigate the Post-COVID World with Scenario Analysis Insights from Synario. Without adequate cash flows, revenue generation, or new capital injections, many higher education institutions won’t be able to stay solvent and keep their doors open. If higher education as we know it is to survive […]

The Importance of Scenario Analysis 5min Read The importance of scenario analysis can’t be understated. When used correctly, scenario analysis enables you to future-proof your organization. It helps you not only anticipate and prepare for risks, but also capitalize on opportunities. But how do you predict the future when there are so many variables to […]

Higher Education Debt and Capital Market Overview 5min Read By Synario Team | November 30, 2020 The higher education industry is in a state of flux from the coronavirus and more. Casey Fox, Higher Education Municipal Advisor at PFM (Public Financial Management), spoke to the current state of the higher education debt and capital markets […]

Scenario Modeling: What You Need to Know 10m Read Scenario modeling has become a valuable tool for businesses, governments, educational institutions, investment firms, and other organizations to evaluate possible future events. If done correctly, scenario modeling enables organizations to better plan for the future, mitigate risks, and capitalize on opportunities. When analysts, modelers, or CFOs […]

PPP Loan Analysis: A How-To through Financial Modeling 5m Read By synario | October 18, 2020 Payroll Protection Now Available As federal, state and local governments attempt to help both individuals and businesses through the COVID-19 recession, the Small Business Association (SBA) has released information on how to apply for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) […]

Modeling the Shift to Online Learning for Higher Education 7min Read Watch the Video   Colleges and universities across the United States have shut their campuses and moved every curriculum online. Few were prepared for such a dramatic and sudden shift to online learning systems. In this video, we explore how higher education institutions could […]

Not Your Average Financial Software Implementation 8min Read By synario | October 18, 2020 Exceptional Implementation in Less Time With an average implementation time of three months, Synario is designed to be implemented timely and efficiently. Synario enables new users to get up and running in a fraction of the time it takes to implement […]

Modeling COVID-19: Economic Impact Scenarios Infographic 4m Read By synario | October 18, 2020 COVID-19 cases continue to grow in the United States and other countries around the world. Generating impact scenarios is a vital activity for every business and institution as economic uncertainty and mass layoffs create unstable financial conditions for businesses and individuals […]

The Truth about Business Intelligence 8 min Read By synario | October 18, 2020 “Improving revenues using Business Intelligence (BI) is now the most popular objective enterprises are pursuing…” -Dresner Advisory Associates, Wisdom of Crowds® Business Intelligence Market Study, 2019 The Dresner Advisory report suggests organizations around the world are attempting to maximize their daily […]

 Modeling International Student Enrollment Scenarios for Higher Education 12m Read   Video Transcript Below: Introduction Good afternoon. Today we will be covering some ways higher education business officers Can help support better strategic decisions despite the uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought to us all. We will specifically be focusing on understanding and preparing for the […]

Short and Long Term Strategies to Thrive in the Current Environment 90 min Read [2:16] Agenda Breakdown State of the Industry What is Strategic Planning? Short-Term Strategies Bridging the Gap Long-Term Strategies [3:15] State of the Industry Negative financial outlook from Moody’s for second consecutive year Moody’s is also projecting a negative net tuition revenue […]

Building Recession Resilience 20 min Read Scenario Planning in Higher Education   Scenario Planning in Higher Education Recession—the most frightening word looming over the economic framework of higher education. A word that means cutbacks, layoffs, and lowered enrollment for every institution across the country. There is no way to predict with 100% accuracy when a […]

Preventing Scope Creep in Financial Modeling 2 min Read By synario | October 18, 2020 What is a Project Scope? Scope refers to the objectives of a project and the goals that need to be met to achieve the specified result. More importantly, the scope defines what you would not do in the project. These attributes also […]

How To: Financial Modeling with an Iterative, Design Thinking Mindset 5 min Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | October 18, 2020 Striking the right balance between the level of trust-inducing granular detail in a financial model and an institutions overarching financial position is critical to keeping any model usable year after year. Design thinking offers an […]

Arizona State University Goes Live on Synario Modeling Software 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – March 13, 2018:  Synario announced today that Arizona State University is now live on the Synario platform.  The university is using the financial modeling to forecast long-term planning scenarios, including evaluating various operational and capital project assumptions and their impact on […]

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Goes Live on Synario Financial Modeling Platform 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – January 26, 2018:  PFM announced the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) is now live on Synario Pro. The University uses the platform to evaluate operating impacts of important strategic areas of the institution including tuition, […]

Western Michigan University Selects Synario Financial Modeling Platform 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – January 2, 2018: PFM announced today that Western Michigan University has subscribed to the Synario platform. Located in Kalamazoo, the University has an approximate enrollment of 24,000 students and is considered to be amongst the top three aviation programs offered in the […]

Covenant College selects Synario Financial Modeling Software 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – November 20, 2017: Covenant College has selected the Synario Multi-Year Planning for Higher Education platform to meet their strategic planning and forecasting needs. With a total enrollment of approximately 1,000 students, Covenant is a small Christian liberal arts college in Lookout Mountain, GA. […]

Synario Partnership Gives 89 Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities a New Tool to Help Overcome Financial Challenges 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – October 19, 2017:  PFM and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) today announced a new partnership that will grant 89 higher education institutions across the Commonwealth access to the preeminent […]

Survey Reveals 76% of Higher Ed Financial Executives Lack Confidence in Long-term Financial Planning 2 min Read Difficulty Seeing and Planning for Future Scenarios Cited As Top Challenges Philadelphia, PA (May 17, 2017) – Amid increasing funding pressures for colleges and universities, a new survey published by PFM Solutions LLC, a leading provider of financial […]

Barton College Goes Live on Synario Multi-Year Planning for Higher Education 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – January 16, 2018:  PFM today announced Barton College has deployed the cloud-based Synario Financial modeling in its finance department. After signing a subscription agreement in early November, Barton’s VP for Administration and Finance, David Browning, used the Synario platform […]

Announcement: Long Island Power Authority selects Synario Financial Modeling Platform 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – December 5, 2017: Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), a municipal subdivision of the State of New York with an annual revenue of $3.4 billion, has selected the Synario for Public Power platform to meet their strategic planning and forecasting needs. […]

Patented Multiverse ModelingTM technology allows finance professionals to easily compare financial futures within a single model. Toggled assumptions and scenarios make comparisons as easy as two clicks. Quickly identify the right financial trajectory and communicate the results with your stakeholders. Synario lives in the cloud, so you can access it anywhere – anytime. Model owners […]

Whitebirch Multi-Year Planning has rebranded to Synario. The new name represents our focus on offering finance leaders the best financial modeling and scenario analysis software available. Learn more about how Synario offers clarity, credibility, and consensus around the financial trajectory of any business. “Synario has become an invaluable tool for our organization. The flexibility to […]

Modeling the Second Wave of COVID-19 10min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 A Multi-Industry Outlook on Coping with a Second Wave of COVID-19 As the United States moves into the summer months and the collective zeitgeist of the American populace shifts from pandemic precautions to sunny vacations, medical experts are less certain […]

Future Proofing Your Organization through Agile Financial Planning 45min Webcast By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 NACUBO Webcast – Future Proofing Your Institution Through Agile Planning Presented by: Jim Hundreiser (NACUBO), Kevin Kuhar (Synario), Woody Wade (Wade & Company) In this webcast, Kevin Kuhar, Higher Education Account Executive for Synario, Jim Hundreiser, and Woody […]

Report: Government Finance Officers Lack Confidence in Fiscal Projections 5 min Read Bond Buyer June 16, 2017 Brett Matteo, former President of PFM Solutions, was featured in Bond Buyer discussing how financial officers of local governments can increase their confidence in fiscal projections. Read full article (paywall) *Whitebirch is now Synario™

The Week in Public Finance: A Rate Hike, Unpredictable Taxpayers and Stress-Testing Budgets 5 min Read 5 min Read Governing Magazine June 16, 2017 Brett Matteo, President of PFM Solutions presented original survey findings from WACUBO. He discussed how local governments should use financial modeling technology to change assumptions and evaluate impact levels. ( read […]

University of California – Irvine Goes Live on Synario Financial Modeling Platform 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – November 29, 2017:  PFM today announced the University of California – Irvine (UCI) Student Affairs Auxiliary Services division recently went live on Synario. Business units within Student Affairs Auxiliary Services, including housing, dining etc. function independently and leadership […]

City of Richmond, CA selects Synario Modeling Intelligence (MI) 2 min Read New Client: City of Richmond, California PHILADELPHIA – February 8, 2018:  PFM announced today the City of Richmond, California recently signed a Synario subscription agreement. The city is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area with a population […]

Lasell College Goes Live on Synario Multi-Year Planning Software for Higher Education 2 min Read PHILADELPHIA – November 16, 2017:  PFM today announced Lasell College has deployed the cloud-based Synario Financial modeling in its finance department. Lasell is using the platform to stress test enrollment levels and major expense drivers. The richer financial analysis and […]

Auburn University Uses Synario Software (formerly known as Whitebirch) 3 minutes Read University Business March 20, 2018 With colleges and universities constantly juggling multiple financial challenges, Auburn University has become the 100th user to turn to an innovative cloud-based platform for help — PFM’s Whitebirch Multi-Year Planning Software (Whitebirch), a preeminent solution specifically built for […]

Philly's PFM Offers Financial Planning Tool for Higher Education 3 min Read Philadelphia Inquirer January 03, 2018 There was a time when executives at colleges and universities didn’t have to sweat every decision that affected the long-term financial health of their institutions. All they had to do was raise tuition rates for ever-increasing numbers of […]

An Open Budget Book 3 min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Business Officer Magazine November 30, 2017 Colleges and universities across the country have faced numerous fiscal challenges in recent years, including yo-yoing state appropriations, seesawing enrollment numbers, and a wide variety of deferred maintenance and capital needs. In most cases, those […]

Why Bank & Financial Institution Modeling Matters Now More Than Ever 5 min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 The specifics surrounding financial models typically don’t change much from industry to industry. In most cases, the modeling templates you use for a retail business can easily be reconfigured for the needs of a […]

How to Master Real Estate Financial Modeling (REFM) 5 Min Read Creating a real estate financial model can be tricky business. Creating one with the flexibility to navigate any financial hurdle, takes a master.   For many investors, their real estate financial modeling, also known as REFM, may have worked well throughout the historic bull […]

The Problem With Financial Modeling Software Solutions 5-Min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Financial modeling software solutions are used to answer a single, high-level question: What will my business look like in the future? In order to predict the future, most modeling solutions perform calculations (while operating under certain assumptions) that result […]

СOVID-19 Makes Pharmaceutical Financial Modeling More Important Than Ever 5 Min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 As COVID-19 continues to alter our world in unimaginable ways, there is one industry that is both shaping the course of and being shaped by the pandemic at the same time: the pharmaceutical industry. The COVID-19 […]

How to Perform Decision Tree Analysis 5-Minute Read What is decision tree analysis? Your company has to make a decision that carries some weight. It could be as simple as “should we expand our sales team?” or as complicated as “should we acquire one of our competitors?” So, how do you make a decision this […]

How to Build a Financial Model for Your Company, a Comprehensive Guide 5 Min Read It usually starts with a question from the CFO: What would happen if our company did X? X is never simple, and neither is the solution. Enter financial models. Financial models condense complex questions into numbers and graphs. There are multiple […]

The 10 Types of Financial Models: A Simple Guide and Walkthrough 5 Min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Financial modeling is a process that uses a company’s historical performance—as well as predicted future performance—to both summarize and forecast its financials. This process involves the use of key finance, accounting, and business metrics to […]

How to Set the Right Goals and Targets for Your Financial Model 3 min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 As you set out to build a financial model for your organization, it is important to consider the guiding principles below. They will help keep you on track and focused on achieving your […]

What Is Financial Modeling? (And Why Are We Still Doing It in Excel?) 5 Min Read What is a financial model? At a very high level, a financial model is an umbrella term for a tool that helps people make important decisions about finances by displaying possible financial outcomes given different circumstances. For example, if […]

The Case for Financial Modeling 3 min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 What is a model? A model is a tool to forecast some or all of your business' financial performance. It is properly organized and structured to evaluate options, answer questions, make decisions, communicate with stakeholders and consider change. Generally, there […]

Modeling vs Budgeting: Organizational Interdependency 9 min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Two different organizational challenges require two different solutions. Similar to how budgeting applications improve operational performance, Modeling Intelligence (MI) allows organizations to set financially sound trajectories for long-term strategic visions. Institutions should use interdependent but separate modeling and budgeting solutions to yield the greatest financial success in the […]

Predict with Precision 2 min Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | October 18, 2020 Probabilistic Thinking in Financial Modeling Financial professionals can gain valuable insight through probabilistic scenario analysis. As a powerful analytical tool, it helps inform the decision-making process by identifying and quantifying the full field of future possibilities. However, sometimes the “spread” of what […]

6 Reasons to Ditch Excel 5 Min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Why It’s Risky to Use Excel as a Financial Modeling Tool The reliance on spreadsheet-based financial modeling is deeply entrenched in the culture of many organizations. This is often due to Excel’s convenience, flexibility and up-front time saving benefits, as […]

Your Guide to Manufacturing Financial Modeling 5 Min Read Now more than ever, manufacturers need to understand the ins and outs of their finances. Sudden shifts in customer behavior could affect product demand. Supply chain disruptions could lead to spikes in costs for raw materials. These situations and more can impact your bottom line. Yet […]

Navigating Economic Uncertainty with Financial Modeling 5 Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Navigating Economic Uncertainty with Financial Modeling The coronavirus-induced collapse of the global economy is predicted to be the worst downturn since the Great Depression. Now more than ever, business leaders and finance teams are turning to scenario planning to weather […]

Higher Ed: Pivoting for COVID-19 5 Minutes Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 While the social and economic impacts of the growing coronavirus outbreak have dominated the news cycle, the larger implications for higher education have largely gone unnoticed. With the WHO recently declaring the coronavirus a global pandemic, colleges and universities across […]

Gray Rhino Vs. Black Swan Events: Prepare and Adapt to High-Risk Crises 6 minutes Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 The Financial Impact of High-Risk Crises It’s arguable if COVID-19 is truly a “black swan” event—something that was unpredictable with profound consequences on the global economy. The incident may better align with the […]

Creating and Enabling Leadership Teams to Confidently Drive Organizational Change 45min Webcast Video Transcription Introduction Kevin: Good afternoon.  Thank you for joining us today on our webcast “Creating and Enabling Leadership Teams to Confidently Drive Organizational Change.”  This webcast brings together the combined expertise of On the Goga and Synario and years of experience working with […]

Financial Modeling Framework 8 min Read By Brandon Rosenbluth | October 18, 2020 Setting goals will allow you to define the scope and framework for your model. Scope is a good approximation for model complexity but it's not the only factor that you need to consider. Additional constraints that will impact your ability to achieve your goals […]

Micro- and Macro-Scenario Analysis in Financial Modeling 5min Read For an organization to grow, it must take on risk. Understanding the overarching risks as well as the ramifications associated with maintaining and growing a business is the foundation of scenario analysis. Every growth opportunity is weighed against the financial health of an organization. Whether that […]

Wofford College 15min Read By Synario Team | October 18, 2020 Use Case Overview Read the full use case Standing out in today’s higher education environment is nearly impossible. For Wofford College, a private, independent liberal arts college in South Carolina, gaining national visibility to drive higher quality applicants is a constant challenge. One advantage […]