Income/Spending distributions can be done three different ways in Fundriver. 1) You can automate the spending process (Automated Method), or 2) You can enter the income/spending distributions manually either transaction by transaction (Manual Method) or, 3) By using the “Copy from Excel” feature (Flexible Method).  

The first step in any of these methods is to verify that your spending rule is set up and is correct. To check your existing rule(s), go to ORGANIZE > SPENDING RULES. Please review the article "How do I set up a spending rule?" for guidance on creating a new rule.

Distributions using the Automated Method

First, verify your spending rule is set up correctly by navigating to ORGANIZE > SPENDING RULES. Make sure you check the allocation date has been updated from the prior year. The allocation date, also known as valuation date, is used to calculate your spending draw. For example if averaging 12 months, the average value will start as of the allocation date and calculate an additional 11 months back from that date. 

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Once you have verified that the spending rule parameters are set correctly, you can have Fundriver debit each individual fund for its spending amount. The automated method can be used to debit funds for the spending amount and set up to work with your withdrawal schedule. For example, if the annual payout rate is 5% and you want to debit funds quarterly using this AUTOMATED METHOD, you would change the Withdrawal parameter POSTING FREQUENCY to QUARTERLY, then CREATE DISTRIBUTIONS during the period the cash is drawn down.  See above for example spending rule.


After you've verified that your Spending Rules are set up correctly, go to REPORT > SPENDING.
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Click on one of your Estimated Spending Reports to run and then select RUN REPORT. We recommend running the Estimated Spending Report with Column Grouping and Drill Down. Verify that funds are assigned to the correct rule and do a spot check to ensure your total distributions equal your typical annual draw.

Once you've verified that the Estimated Spending amounts are accurate, proceed to next step.


Next, go to ACTIVITY > DISTRIBUTE.

Choose a spending rule from the SELECT SPENDING RULE dropdown menu.
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The choices are:
  • All Spending Rules
  • All Primary Spending Rules
  • All Secondary Spending Rules

And then each individual rule is listed -- in this case: Blank rule, and Standard Endowment Spending Rule.

Once you have selected a spending rule rule from the dropdown, select a date from the Use Fund Values As Of dropdown. The Use Fund Values As Of should mirror your allocation date on the spending rule set-up page.

Click the CREATE DISTRIBUTIONS button.

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When the CREATE DISTRIBUTIONS screen appears, click OK.
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Your distributions will be created based on the spending parameters you have set up.  See the end of this document for a report you can run to review your distributions.


Deleting distributions can be done the same way they were created - just select the appropriate items from the dropdowns, and click the DELETE DISTRIBUTIONS button. You will receive a popup to confirm that you want to complete the deletion.
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Distributions using the Manual Method

To enter spending/income distributions manually, go to ACTIVITY > TRANSACTION ENTRY.
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Choose the TRANSACTION TYPE > DISTRIBUTION and enter amount and any other information you would like available on the transaction record.
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Click SAVE.

Repeat for as many distributions as you would like to process for a given period.  This method is best for when only a few distributions are needed.

Distributions using the Flexible Method

The Flexible Method uses the COPY FROM EXCEL feature in Fundriver. This allows you to post distributions in bulk to funds based on your desired amounts.

Once you have your desired distributions amounts for each GLID formatted in excel you can bring in the data in bulk.


Click on ACTIVITY > TRANSACTION ENTRY.
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Click on the COPY FROM EXCEL tab and choose the DISTRIBUTION transaction type.
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Your excel file should contain only GLID and GROSS DISTRIBUTION. You can add two additional columns for NOTES and SPENDING/INCOME ACCOUNT NUMBER (Destination). Populate these columns if you would like the information to reflect in the transaction record. They can also be left blank.

Note:  If you have funds that are scheduled to reinvest either to market value or principal, you must take the additional step of adding in these transactions manually or using Copy from Excel.  Funds that are reinvesting to market value should have a TRANSACTION TYPE of EXTERNAL TRANSFER IN and funds reinvesting to principal should have an INCOME TO PRINCIPAL type.  

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Select your data and copy the four columns by right clicking and selecting COPY or using Ctrl + C.

Navigate back to the COPY FROM EXCEL tab in the Fundriver interface and click the PASTE button.
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You will see the message below. Click Ctrl + V to paste.
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Your data will populate the table on the IMPORT TRANSACTIONS FROM EXCEL screen. Edit or delete any distributions you notice are incorrect.
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Once all data is correct, click the PROCESS button.
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Exceptions that cannot be processed will remain in the table with a corresponding ERROR MESSAGE. A blank table means all records were properly processed.
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Review any unprocessed records for errors and correct using the EDIT COMMAND.  Once corrections are made, click on PROCESS.

Your distribution records have now been committed to the database.

Reviewing Distributions

To review total distributions that have been posted (using any of the above methods) navigate to ACTIVITY > INVESTMENT ACTIVITY. Choose your INVESTMENT POOL and select the POST tab. Hit the RECONCILE button. A cash reconciliation screen will appear showing what distributions have been posted for the period.
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