The Finance Industry's Other Workhorse Calculator

Alongside the HP 12C, the TI BA II Plus is one of two CFA-approved calculators. Unlike HP's RPN entry, the BA II Plus uses standard algebraic entry — more familiar to most users. For CFA candidates, finance students, and anyone doing TVM (time value of money) calculations, it's industry-standard equipment.

Short answer: Essential for CFA candidates + finance professionals who prefer algebraic entry over RPN. $30-40 pricing makes it the value pick vs HP 12C ($60-80). All standard financial functions: TVM, NPV, IRR, bond pricing, amortization.

Check the TI BA II Plus price on Amazon

Specs

Spec	Value
Functions	100+
Memory	10 registers
Entry	Algebraic (standard)
Display	10-digit LCD
Battery	LR44 × 2, long life
CFA-approved	Yes
MSRP	~$35

What It Can Do

Financial functions:

Time Value of Money (TVM): present/future values, interest, payments
NPV (Net Present Value): up to 24 cash flows
IRR (Internal Rate of Return)
Bond pricing + yield
Amortization schedules
Depreciation (4 methods)
Interest conversion (nominal to effective)

Statistics:

Mean, standard deviation, variance
Linear regression
Combinations + permutations

Beyond finance:

Standard arithmetic + scientific functions
Trigonometry
Logarithms + exponents

Algebraic vs RPN Entry

Algebraic (BA II Plus):

Type: 5 + 3 = 8 (natural order)
Familiar to most users
Parentheses for order of operations

RPN (HP 12C):

Type: 5 ENTER 3 + = 8 (stack-based)
Faster for complex calculations once learned
No parentheses needed

For CFA exam: either is acceptable. Many candidates choose based on what they learned first.

CFA Exam Considerations

CFA Institute approves only two calculators:

HP 12C (and 12C Platinum)
TI BA II Plus (and BA II Plus Professional)

No other calculators allowed. If you don't own either, you must buy one before the exam.

Who Should Buy

Strong fit:

CFA candidates
Finance students
Real estate professionals
Financial advisors
Accountants + bookkeepers
Investment bankers (backup calculator)

Less ideal:

Pure statistics students (TI-83/84 better)
Engineers (scientific calculator with more features)
Casual users (basic calculator is sufficient)

BA II Plus vs Professional

BA II Plus (standard): ~$35. All essential finance functions.

BA II Plus Professional: ~$50. Adds modified duration, modified IRR, payback + discounted payback, net future value, more memory.

For CFA Level I: standard is enough. For Level III or practice: Professional worth consideration.

BA II Plus Professional — check price on Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros: CFA-approved, algebraic entry familiar, all essential finance functions, reasonable pricing, long battery life, compact size, reliable TI brand

Cons: Basic screen + interface, no graphing, no app/computer connectivity, LR44 batteries (not AAA), limited memory registers, no programmability

FAQ

BA II Plus or HP 12C? Personal preference. Algebraic (BA II) is easier to learn; RPN (HP 12C) is faster once mastered.

CFA study tips with BA II Plus? Practice TVM + cash flow problems. Know the 2 key function keys ([C/CE] + [2nd]). Schweser or Kaplan courses include calculator training.

Can I program it? No — non-programmable.

Battery life? 2-3 years typical. LR44 cells.

Where else is it useful? Real estate (mortgage calcs), accounting, small business finance.

The only other CFA-permitted calculator: HP 12C Platinum

Is the BA II Plus the best calculator for the CFA exam?

For most candidates, yes — by policy as much as by preference. The CFA Institute calculator policy permits only two models in the exam room: the Texas Instruments BA II Plus (including the Professional) and the Hewlett Packard 12C (including the Platinum). Between the two permitted lines, the BA II Plus is the one most prep providers teach to, uses standard algebraic entry rather than the 12C's RPN, and costs meaningfully less. Unless you already know and prefer RPN, the BA II Plus is the default CFA calculator choice.

The Best Calculator for the CFA Exam: BA II Plus or HP 12C?

Since CFA Institute's two-model policy means every candidate faces this exact choice, here is the head-to-head for exam purposes specifically. The BA II Plus is the default recommendation for most candidates: algebraic entry matches how prep providers write their keystroke guides, the used market is deep, and at $30-40 a spare unit for exam day is affordable. The HP 12C rewards its devotees — RPN entry is genuinely faster for chained TVM work once internalized — but learning RPN during CFA prep adds cognitive load exactly when you don't want it. The practical rule: if you already use a 12C daily, keep it; otherwise buy the BA II Plus and spend the saved hours on practice problems.

Exam-day logistics favor owning your calculator early: proctors inspect calculators at check-in, and you want the exact unit you practiced on, with fresh batteries and muscle-memory keystrokes. (Calculator policy details change occasionally — verify current rules on CFA Institute's site before your sitting.)

Bottom Line

For CFA candidates + finance professionals preferring algebraic entry, the TI BA II Plus is the calculator. $35 pricing + CFA-approved + all essential finance functions = essential professional equipment.

Our rating: 4.6/5 — Docked for basic screen and no advanced features. Within CFA-approved calculator category, value pick.