After 3 years in the CFA program, I finally passed the third test to receive the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2011.  I will give both of my TIBA2P's a combined 5% of the credit.  For those of you familiar with the test, that is equal to the topic weight of Portfolio and Wealth Management on Level 1.  Is that relevant to this review?  Not really.

I prefer this calculator to the other option given in the CFA program - the HP12C.  The main reason for this preference is that I'm not a weird loser that likes RPN (or whatever it is called) number entry.  I don't apologize for offending weird losers who might be reading this because it is truly bizarre to add by typing: 60 (enter) 9 (enter) Plus (enter) Equals (enter).  Who does that crap?  I'll get my 69 the old fashioned way.

I still am confused how all of the Cash Flow functions work, but who cares, i'll never need them again!  All I know is that you really gotta pound those "Clr work" and "clr tvm" buttons to avoid a messy situation.  Godforbid that you're trying to solve for the I/Y and all the sudden you didn't update the PMT!  Can you imagine the consequences?  Another year of studying all because you didn't clr that tvm.  Gotta clr the tvm.

The other note on this product is that the battery never wears out.  I don't care how much the CFA program scares you into thinking you need to bring a screw driver and replacement battery (or in my case two calculators) to the exam, the battery will not run out.  I used the same calculator for work every day and to study for all 3 levels and still have not needed to change that battery (5+ years of use at this point).  Take that guarantee to the bank.

xoxo,

philyodaddy, CFA

p.s. Oh god, is this a humblebrag review?  I assure you that was not the intent.  I usually do my bragging without any semblance of humility.
After 3 years in the CFA program, I finally passed the third test to receive the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2011. I will give both of my TIBA2P's a combined 5% of the credit. For those of you familiar with the test, that is equal to the topic weight of Portfolio and Wealth Management on Level 1. Is that relevant to this review? Not really. I prefer this calculator to the other option given in the CFA program - the HP12C. The main reason for this preference is that I'm not a weird loser that likes RPN (or whatever it is called) number entry. I don't apologize for offending weird losers who might be reading this because it is truly bizarre to add by typing: 60 (enter) 9 (enter) Plus (enter) Equals (enter). Who does that crap? I'll get my 69 the old fashioned way. I still am confused how all of the Cash Flow functions work, but who cares, i'll never need them again! All I know is that you really gotta pound those "Clr work" and "clr tvm" buttons to avoid a messy situation. Godforbid that you're trying to solve for the I/Y and all the sudden you didn't update the PMT! Can you imagine the consequences? Another year of studying all because you didn't clr that tvm. Gotta clr the tvm. The other note on this product is that the battery never wears out. I don't care how much the CFA program scares you into thinking you need to bring a screw driver and replacement battery (or in my case two calculators) to the exam, the battery will not run out. I used the same calculator for work every day and to study for all 3 levels and still have not needed to change that battery (5+ years of use at this point). Take that guarantee to the bank. xoxo,

philyodaddy, CFA

p. s. Oh god, is this a humblebrag review? I assure you that was not the intent. I usually do my bragging without any semblance of humility.