Texas Instruments BA II Plus Review: The CFA Candidate's Financial Calculator

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.

Specs

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:

1. HP 12C (and 12C Platinum)
2. 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.

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.

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.