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Oct 27, 2009 3:48 am

What’s the best financial calc on the market right now? I know they all have the functions to do what I need them to do, but are there any with extra features that are helpful?

Oct 27, 2009 4:33 am

I’ve played with different ones off and on over the years.  10bii, 17bii+, TI BAII Pro.  I’ve always come back to the HP 12c platinum.  Looks great, durable and great on battery life.

  If you're short on cash, you can get the Victor V12 for about 1/2 cost (but it looks more like a $5 calculator).
Oct 27, 2009 12:42 pm

HP 12c. I agree with Gordon. I have that TI BAII PLus as well, but the HP 12c is the best one I’ve used.

Oct 27, 2009 1:04 pm

Joneslink

Oct 27, 2009 2:25 pm
Weddle Me:

Joneslink

  That was pretty good.  I don't have a financial calculator on my desk.  What do you folks use them for, other than to make yourself look smarter than is necessary?
Oct 27, 2009 2:44 pm

I like to type in “7734” then turn it upside down and giggle.

Oct 27, 2009 2:45 pm

Spiff - some people actually do things other than say, “well see here Mr. Client. Alan Skrainka and Mario DeRose say that you just buy these here mutual funds or use thissee here Ad-vize-ury Sole -u - shuns and we’ll gitcha where yoo want to bee goin’, hoss chicken”. They’re not for everybody, but especially when you are independent and don’t have access to the variety of features that the Joogle technology provides.



If you do any sort of quantitative analysis and don’t actually have JMP or Winks on your computer, then they come in pretty handy.



They are actually pretty useful for calculating several different ratios that your financial planning software doesn’t. Interestingly enough (and I hope they fixed this), the SunGard software you guys use had a few flaws in the social security calculations that I sent in to be fixed shortly before I left. I found those flaws by using the good 'ole HP 12c.

Oct 27, 2009 4:19 pm
Dorkydoo:

I like to type in “7734” then turn it upside down and giggle.

  58008
Oct 27, 2009 6:35 pm
Spaceman Spiff:

[quote=Weddle Me]Joneslink

  That was pretty good.  I don't have a financial calculator on my desk.  What do you folks use them for, other than to make yourself look smarter than is necessary?[/quote]   I have used the same damn HP 12C since 1990 (I used to be an accountant).   I can calculate TVM and an ammortization schedule far quicker than going into Joneslink/FAST/etc.   Give me 4 inputs and I'll calc a mortgage in about 5 seconds.  I used to use it for quick depreciation calcs in corp accounting applications.   So when someone comes to your office and says "can I retire tomoorrow?", you have to bust out FAST and spend 4 hours, where I can ask for SS, pension, and investment balances, and it takes me literally 30 seconds to give them an answer.   Do you know how to calculate the internal rate of return on a SPIA?  How do you know what a $132,768 invested today will be worth in 6.5 years, at a rate of return of 6%, adding $250/mo. to the balance?  Yes, the HP 12C my friend.  That calc just took my about 7 seconds.   I love my HP 12C.  Best part, nobody else knows how to use them, so nobody ever tries to steal them ("damn it! what's the freakin' Enter button for?  Why do you do "times" AFTER the number??  Jesus!  Does anyone else have a normal calculator I can borrow??!".....as someone busts out the little solar calculator that comes with your padfolio)   I take that back.  The BEST part is that you can throw them against a wall and they won't break.  They're like the Humvee of calculators.  That's why I've had the same on since 1990.  Just change the batteries every so often.   In the past 19 years, I have lost my wedding ring, but never lost my HP 12C.  (no joke)
Oct 27, 2009 6:41 pm
SometimesNowhere:

[quote=Dorkydoo] I like to type in “7734” then turn it upside down and giggle.

  58008[/quote]   Please, I prefer my calculator jokes a little more advanced. 55378008
Oct 27, 2009 8:13 pm
B24:

[quote=Spaceman Spiff][quote=Weddle Me]Joneslink





That was pretty good. I don’t have a financial calculator on my desk. What do you folks use them for, other than to make yourself look smarter than is necessary?[/quote]



I have used the same damn HP 12C since 1990 (I used to be an accountant).



I can calculate TVM and an ammortization schedule far quicker than going into Joneslink/FAST/etc. Give me 4 inputs and I’ll calc a mortgage in about 5 seconds. I used to use it for quick depreciation calcs in corp accounting applications.



So when someone comes to your office and says “can I retire tomoorrow?”, you have to bust out FAST and spend 4 hours, where I can ask for SS, pension, and investment balances, and it takes me literally 30 seconds to give them an answer.



Do you know how to calculate the internal rate of return on a SPIA?

How do you know what a $132,768 invested today will be worth in 6.5 years, at a rate of return of 6%, adding $250/mo. to the balance? Yes, the HP 12C my friend. That calc just took my about 7 seconds.



I love my HP 12C. Best part, nobody else knows how to use them, so nobody ever tries to steal them (“damn it! what’s the freakin’ Enter button for? Why do you do “times” AFTER the number?? Jesus! Does anyone else have a normal calculator I can borrow??!”…as someone busts out the little solar calculator that comes with your padfolio)



I take that back. The BEST part is that you can throw them against a wall and they won’t break. They’re like the Humvee of calculators. That’s why I’ve had the same on since 1990. Just change the batteries every so often.



In the past 19 years, I have lost my wedding ring, but never lost my HP 12C. (no joke)[/quote]



Unfortunately, I’m in the same boat. I lost my wedding ring several months ago, but have never lost my HP12C.



Oct 27, 2009 8:42 pm
B24:

[quote=Spaceman Spiff][quote=Weddle Me]Joneslink

  That was pretty good.  I don't have a financial calculator on my desk.  What do you folks use them for, other than to make yourself look smarter than is necessary?[/quote]   I have used the same damn HP 12C since 1990 (I used to be an accountant).   I can calculate TVM and an ammortization schedule far quicker than going into Joneslink/FAST/etc.   Give me 4 inputs and I'll calc a mortgage in about 5 seconds.  I used to use it for quick depreciation calcs in corp accounting applications.   So when someone comes to your office and says "can I retire tomoorrow?", you have to bust out FAST and spend 4 hours, where I can ask for SS, pension, and investment balances, and it takes me literally 30 seconds to give them an answer.   Do you know how to calculate the internal rate of return on a SPIA?  How do you know what a $132,768 invested today will be worth in 6.5 years, at a rate of return of 6%, adding $250/mo. to the balance?  Yes, the HP 12C my friend.  That calc just took my about 7 seconds.   I love my HP 12C.  Best part, nobody else knows how to use them, so nobody ever tries to steal them ("damn it! what's the freakin' Enter button for?  Why do you do "times" AFTER the number??  Jesus!  Does anyone else have a normal calculator I can borrow??!".....as someone busts out the little solar calculator that comes with your padfolio)   I take that back.  The BEST part is that you can throw them against a wall and they won't break.  They're like the Humvee of calculators.  That's why I've had the same on since 1990.  Just change the batteries every so often.   In the past 19 years, I have lost my wedding ring, but never lost my HP 12C.  (no joke)[/quote]   Get a room freak.
Oct 27, 2009 9:14 pm

Sad, isn’t it?

  It's the little things in life.
Oct 27, 2009 10:11 pm

"I love my HP 12C.  Best part, nobody else knows how to use them, so
nobody ever tries to steal them ("damn it! what’s the freakin’ Enter
button for?  Why do you do “times” AFTER the number??  Jesus!  Does
anyone else have a normal calculator I can borrow??!"

my kids laugh at me when I try to use a regular calculator. They look at me like I am a moron for not operating it correctly.

Oct 27, 2009 10:50 pm
Spaceman Spiff:

[quote=Weddle Me]Joneslink

  That was pretty good.  I don't have a financial calculator on my desk.  What do you folks use them for, other than to make yourself look smarter than is necessary?[/quote]   "Hey....let's see here....if I insult 12 Jones Brokers today....and then explain 15 times how an Indy Rep makes more money then they do....divided by the number of times I insult Windy, times Pi................nope i'm still a moron" 
Oct 27, 2009 10:52 pm

We should start the Fan Club.  Every year we meet some place like Omaha and sit around and talk about our HP 12C.

  Nerds of the world unite!
Oct 28, 2009 12:57 pm
Weddle Me:

Joneslink



Don't forget the ICA guide. Need a number, just point. I don't even know why we use hypotheticals. ICA!
Oct 28, 2009 1:18 pm

[quote=B24]We should start the Fan Club.  Every year we meet some place like Omaha and sit around and talk about our HP 12C.

  Nerds of the world unite![/quote]   Already started on Facebook.  And no, I'm not a member.
Oct 28, 2009 1:27 pm
Ronnie Dobbs:

[quote=Weddle Me] Joneslink



Don't forget the ICA guide. Need a number, just point. I don't even know why we use hypotheticals. ICA![/quote]

I don't even know why you guys call yourselves advisors (this is not directed at B24, ytrewq or anybody else who is not the "typical" EDJ advisor).
Oct 28, 2009 1:32 pm
Hey Kool-Aid:

[quote=Spaceman Spiff][quote=Weddle Me]Joneslink





That was pretty good. I don’t have a financial calculator on my desk. What do you folks use them for, other than to make yourself look smarter than is necessary?[/quote]



“Hey…let’s see here…if I insult 12 Jones Brokers today…and then explain 15 times how an Indy Rep makes more money then they do…divided by the number of times I insult Windy, times Pi…nope i’m still a moron” [/quote]



HKA - are you adding the first two variables and then dividing by how many times you insult Windy?



If so, all things being equal, your number will be a fraction. I think the correct method is to multiply the first two variables. Only then would you be a moron.



Of course, if you just increase the amount of times you insult Windy, you would decrease the likelihood that you would be a moron.