Free Financial Forensic Audit Template
Run Your Own Financial Forensic Audit (Free Template)
Stop guessing where your money goes. This free template walks you — and an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT — through a full forensic audit: cleaning your data, finding hidden leaks, killing subscription creep, scanning for errors, and optimizing where your savings sit.
No spreadsheet skills required. No email required. Just download and go.
Watch the walkthrough
Claude found $4,500 hiding in plain sight.
Saw the video and want the template? You're in the right place. Download the intake questions and the exact audit prompt below — built so a non-spreadsheet person can run it in one sitting.
What you'll uncover
The leaks that quietly drain thousands every year.
Data errors
Duplicate imports and miscategorized transactions that distort every budget.
Spending leaks
Your biggest controllable categories, ranked by dollar impact.
Subscription creep
Stop hidden subscription creep — unearth forgotten free trials and recurring charges dragging down your savings.
Anomalies & fraud
Unknown merchants, double charges, fees, and interest you shouldn't be paying.
Tax write-offs
Business expenses you may be missing.
Savings optimization
Whether your cash is actually earning a competitive rate.
How it works
Three steps. One sitting.
Works anywhere you already write — perfect for Notion, Obsidian, or any local markdown text editor.
Step 01
Export your transactions
Download a CSV or markdown export from your bank or budgeting app. Aim for 12+ months across all accounts for the best results.
Step 02
Answer a few quick questions
Open the template and answer the grouped intake questions (overhead, income, subscriptions, debt, savings, goals). Skip anything you don't know. Perfect for Notion, Obsidian, or any local markdown text editor.
Step 03
Run the audit
Attach your export to Claude (or ChatGPT), paste the prompt below — the ultimate personal finance AI prompt for Claude and ChatGPT — and let it do the forensic work.
The audit prompt
The ultimate personal finance AI prompt for Claude and ChatGPT.
Attach your transactions export, paste the prompt below with your intake answers appended, and let it do the forensic work.
Act as an elite financial forensic accountant. Using the attached
transactions and my answers below, run a full audit:
1. Clean the data (remove duplicates, fix miscategorized/double-labeled accounts).
2. Break down spending by category (separate fixed, variable, discretionary).
3. Show month-over-month trends for my biggest discretionary categories.
4. List every recurring subscription and flag duplicates or unused ones.
5. Scan for anomalies, errors, or potential fraud.
6. Rank my leaks by dollar impact and ease of fixing.
7. Assess my savings rate and whether my cash earns a competitive APY.
8. Give me a dollar-quantified action plan, easy wins first.
[paste your answers to the intake questions here]You'll get back a cleaned data file, visual summaries, an anomaly report, and a plan that says "do X, save $Y per year."
Disclaimer: This template is for informational purposes only and is not licensed financial, tax, or investment advice. Confirm major financial and tax decisions with a qualified CPA or advisor.
Behind the video
The gear I use to make these.
Everything here is sitting in my office right now. If you buy through an Amazon link, I earn a small commission — it helps the channel, and costs you nothing extra.
Sony Alpha a5000
Compact mirrorless camera for talking-head videos.
View on Amazon →Elgato Facecam
Dedicated webcam when I don't want to rig the mirrorless.
View on Amazon →Elgato Key Light
Bright, dimmable, computer-controlled key light.
View on Amazon →Elgato Stream Deck +
One-press control for lights, scenes, and apps.
View on Amazon →Elgato Wave:3 Mic
Clean mic for voiceovers and screen recordings.
View on Amazon →DJI Mic Mini
Wireless lav mic for away-from-desk shots.
View on Amazon →Elgato Prompter
Built-in screen so I can read while looking at the lens.
View on Amazon →Meross Smart Plug
Reliable HomeKit smart plugs for fans and lamps.
View on Amazon →Govee Smart Bulbs
Color Wi-Fi bulbs with app and voice control.
View on Amazon →EMART Umbrella Lights
Budget-friendly fill lights for even coverage.
View on Amazon →Amazon Associates disclosure: I earn from qualifying purchases. I only list gear I own and use.
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