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CRUT Payout Path Calculator
Note: Monte Carlo simulations may take a few seconds
What It Does
The CRUT Payout Path Calculator projects what a charitable remainder unitrust may pay over time — functioning as both a CRUT distribution calculator and a long-term income projection tool. Enter the trust's current value, payout percentage, and projection period — the calculator runs thousands of simulations to show a realistic range of annual distributions, cumulative payouts, and ending trust values across both good and bad markets. The result is a probabilistic picture of trust cash flow, not a single optimistic line.
Who It's For
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Attorneys and financial planners advising clients on charitable remainder trust planning
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Donors considering a CRUT who want to see how funding amounts or payout rates affect future distributions
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CRUT beneficiaries who want to understand what their trust may pay in the years ahead
How It Works
Provide four inputs:
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Current Trust Value — fair market value of trust assets, or the contemplated funding amount
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Fixed Payout Rate — the unitrust percentage in the governing instrument (e.g., 5%, 6%, 7%)
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Projection Period — years to examine (up to 40)
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Investment Style — portfolio allocation from Conservative (bond-heavy) to Equity-Heavy
Then choose a modeling lens:
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Historical — draws from 150+ years of U.S. market data since 1871
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Forward-Looking — models sustained bull and bear cycles based on post-1950 patterns
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Stress Case — tests prolonged downturns similar to 1970s stagflation or Japan's lost decades
What You'll See
Three charts showing 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile outcomes: annual payouts, trust value over time, and cumulative distributions. Toggle between nominal and inflation-adjusted dollars to assess real purchasing power.
Work With the Attorney Behind the Model
Work With the Attorney Behind the Model
No calculator substitutes for professional judgment. A CRT's real economics depend on asset type, cost basis, client age, charitable intent, tax situation, and governing instrument design — factors that require an attorney who integrates legal drafting with quantitative analysis. Klaus Gottlieb, Esq. offers professional-grade modeling, structural analysis, and full trust drafting for California clients.