Thread: Formula to align two columns with nearly similar text and attached numeric columns

Hi all,

I've found this forum after hours of google searching and researching. I've seen some fantastic examples that I've tried to amend to work for my situation, but am failing miserably.

Here's my issue:
Sheet 1: monthly insurance invoice, column a- names (last first) & column b- premium amount charged
Sheet 2: diffed internal report, column a- names (last first) & column b- premium amount deducted
The name spelling doesn't always match due to middle initials, and sheet 1 usually contains more names than sheet 2. The amounts must travel with the names, but I need one final sheet that has each name matched up and combined when matched, and blank spaces where data is missing from the opposing sheet. I'm working with several thousand rows on each sheet.

If there is a better way of displaying the final result, or even trimming off the middle initials at the end of the name cells- I'd be happy to try that as well!

I've attached an example workbook of what it starts out as and what I need the result to look like.

Any help would be so very appreciated.

Thanks again!