Beneficiary reporting: Key terms and calculation methodology
Last updated: December 11, 2025
The beneficiary report automatically aggregates all current and projected future access & distributions into a single dashboard for each beneficiary. The report pulls from two key places in the app: the Current access tab and the Dispositions tab.
What is the difference between access and distributions?
Access means the beneficiary has either full unrestricted access OR one or more types of limited access that allows them to draw funds from a given entity under certain parameters.
Access is specified in the Current access tab for each entity.
Scheduled distributions are mandatory distributions that are disbursed to the beneficiary on a recurring interval and/or a one-time event.
Distributions are specified in the Current access tab if the beneficiary currently is receiving distributions or will be in the future based on various age milestones.
Distributions are specified in the Dispositive provisions tab if the beneficiary will receive distributions that are contingent on a person dying and a trust distributing because of the death event.
Access today vs. future access
Access today is the total dollar amount that the beneficiary can access today across all trusts that the beneficiary currently has access to. Anything that the beneficiary will receive access to in the future (e.g. after an age milestone or a death event) is not included in this total.
Future access & distributions is the total cumulative value of all scheduled distributions that will occur between today and the final death event, in addition to the total dollar amount that the beneficiary will have access to in trust at the time of the final death event.
Types of access
Beneficiaries have either full unrestricted access to the entity OR they can have any combination of the following types of limited access:
Specific $ access: The dollar value specified is the beneficiary’s access
Specific % access: The percentage specified multiplied by the current or projected entity value is the beneficiary’s access
Age requirement: The projected value of access is included in the “Future access and distributions” section of the beneficiary report if the beneficiary has not reached the specified age
Frequency interval: The access specified is multiplied by the frequency interval and time period of access to calculate the beneficiary’s access
Discretionary access: For discretionary access such as HEMS, you have the option to represent the beneficiary’s access as the full value of the entity, a proportional amount if access is shared with other beneficiaries, or zero dollars to reflect that access is subject to approval
All trust income: If trust income is specified, it will show up in the “Projected distributions” section of the report
Access calculation
If a beneficiary has discretionary access, or access that cannot be quantified specifically (e.g. access under discretion of the trustee, HEMS, HMS, etc.), we allow you to specify how you would like to calculate that access in dollar terms. There are three options:
Proportional amount (default): The total value of the entity will be divided by the number of beneficiaries that have access to that entity. A quick example is below:
Trust A has a current value of $1 million
Trust A has 3 people that can access it
John Smith is one of the 3 people with access and John has HEMS access
In this scenario, choosing proportional amount would calculate John's dollar amount access as $333,333.33
Full amount: The total value of the entity will be attributed to the beneficiary, even if multiple people have access to the entity. Using the same example as above, choosing choosing full amount would calculate John's dollar amount access as $1 million.
Zero: $0 will be attributed to the beneficiary. Using the same example as above, choosing choosing full amount would calculate John's dollar amount access as $0.
You can change the access calculation method by clicking the Access: Proportional button in the top right and changing the selection.
Types of distributions
Distributions are assumed to be paid directly to the beneficiary and are cumulatively totaled through the final death event.
Specific $ distribution: The dollar amount specified is combined with the frequency of distribution to calculate cumulative distributions
Specific % distribution: The percentage specified is multiplied by the projected entity value at the time of distribution and is combined with the frequency of distribution to calculate cumulative distributions
Dispositive provisions
Dispositive provisions are transfers that occur upon the death of a client:
Outright to beneficiary: If the disposition is made directly to the beneficiary (as opposed to a trust the beneficiary has access to), the calculated dollar amount is added to the “Projected distributions” section of the report
To trust: If the disposition is made to a trust that the beneficiary has access to, the calculated dollar amount of beneficiary access is added to the “Access upon both deaths” section of the report