HP 17BII: Buy The Ultimate Financial Calculator For The Finance Professional

Every finance professional carries a calculator through the day. Normally simple addition is all that is needed, however when the deal team is gathered in a conference room and the lead banker is demanding answers, you will be glad that you have the HP 17BII, the ultimate financial calculator for the finance professional. The power of the HP 17BII demands that you study its functions in order to be able to use it well, but after mastery, you will not be disappointed. The comprehensive functionality means that you will not get stuck in complex deal matters. This calculator allows you to enter a formula and set variables to enter and then solve for a missing variable, effectively solving algebraic problems for you.

The real beauty of this calculator lies in the easy to use menu that is displayed on the screen. After some practice with the great user guide provided by HP, you will be able to handle functions like Net Present Value, Loan Payments, and Interest Rates.

This is not a calculator for the novice. Rather it is designed for practitioners of finance, but can be used by anyone looking to do-it-yourself. It is fast and technical. You will struggle to find a problem that it cannot solve either by using the built-in functions or through programming on your own.

Here are the specifics:

Standard algebraic entry methodology

Performs more than 250 business and statistical functions including loan payments, amortization, interest rates and conversion, internal rate of return, net present value, bond price and yield, depreciation, and percentages.

Instruction booklet clearly walks the user through sample calculations and usages.

8,000 bytes of RAM.

Two line display screen that shows menu options as you calculate, which means great complexity in calculations.

The 17BII is fast and rugged and I haven’t yet found something I can’t solve either through the built in functions or by programming it.

Durable frame.

Tactile entry that clearly allows you to feel that you pressed a button.

This calculator is not accepted on the CFA exam.

Purchase the HP 17BII from Amazon by clicking the link below:

HP 17BII Financial Calculator

 

HP 12C Financial Calculator: Buy the Best Financial Calculator For A Very Affordable Price

In business schools throughout the country, in board rooms, war rooms, and on exam day for the Chartered Financial Analyst certification, the HP 12c is the most widely used financial calculator. It has withstood the test of time. Hewlett-Packard created a financial calculator in 1981 that remains the industry standard and is recognized as an essential tool for any financial professional. They made it easy to use so that, with a little practice, the average person can quickly perform basic financial calculations.


HP 12c Financial Calculator

What Calculations Does the HP 12C Perform?

The HP 12C will perform all of the basic financial calculations like Annual Percentage Rate, Net Present Value, and Internal Rate of Return quickly and efficiently. It also calculates weighted average, interest, standard deviation, cash flow, and a host of other functions. When you buy the HP 12C, it comes with a fantastic user manual full of sample calculations, tables, and charts that walk the user through examples of how to use the tool much like a textbook walks you through financial principles.

How Long Will the HP 12C Financial Calculator Last?

It’s hard to say, but odds are that you’ll be able to pass a working model on to your grandchildren. Senior investment bankers typically carry the one that they bought in college around in their front pocket and if you look closely you’ll see that the color has changed slightly from wear and tear. Count on using this calculator for at least fifteen years but don’t be surprised if it runs for another twenty after that. High School students utilize this calculator and end up keeping it throughout their careers.

How Fast Is The Calculator?

Not very. A simple amortization of interest over the life of a loan can take well over a minute. Interestingly, HP surveys convinced the company to keep an older processor because users didn’t trust the answer if the calculator produced it quickly. So the slow speed is part of the reason that the calculator has retained it’s popularity. The original 12C is slower than the latest and greatest model but HP has updated the 12C Platinum Financial Calculator, which retains all of the great features of the original but adds more functionality and faster processing. It also has more data storage.

What Operating System Does the HP 12C use?

The 12C uses the Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) versus the more typical Algebraic Operating System. RPN takes a bit of time to master, but will become second nature. To multiply two and three in RPN, the sequence is: 2 <enter key> 3 <multiply key>. It is simply in theory but takes time to adjust for those used to the AOS  (2 x 2 =) sequences. The programming logic is the same as a macro operation on a computer. The simple logic makes programming easy and intuitive, adding to the popularity of this financial calculator. There are 99 lines of programming available in the original 12C and 400 lines in the Platinum version.

Are there any other good reasons to buy an HP 12C?

The interface is user friendly and hasn’t changed much in the past twenty years, but don’t be fooled by the dated appearance. The tactile feel that comes when you press the buttons also seems outdated to the touch screen generation, but this feature gives the user additional confidence during data entry.

Summary

The HP 12c has been the industry since its introduction in 1981. The processing speed is slightly slower than more modern financial calculators, however the intuitive programming logic, RPN operating system, and industry wide usage make this an essential tool for the prospective finance professional.

Buy the HP 12C by clicking on the link below:

HP 12c Financial Calculator