You're a new member of the planning staff within the finance department at Bertram Enterprises, a large manufacturer of household goods. The firm does an annual operating plan and a long-range plan every year. You've just received a note from the CFO asking you to help him prepare for a meeting with the firm's investment bankers to discuss issuing new securities in the future. The note asks you to prepare an estimate of the company's funding needs and sug- gests that you "start with" the most recent annual and long-range plans. You're confused by the term "start with," since the plans clearly indicate future fund- ing needs. What might the CFO be getting at, and how would you approach the assignment?