We developed the Reserve Sense Benchmark Method to correct the commonly used Benchmark formulas for reserve fund studies. Our method does not change what Benchmark funding has always meant to accomplish; it fixes the math.

These pages are the public, versioned home of our method. They explain what the method does, how it works, and where it differs from the legacy formulas still commonly used in the industry.

Whether you are reading a Reserve Sense report, writing reserve fund studies, or evaluating reserve fund standards, these pages are designed to help you quickly find the level of detail you need.

Choose your path

Benchmark Overview

Start here for a plain-English explanation of what a Benchmark is and why it matters.

Walkthrough

Follow a step-by-step example showing how the Reserve Sense Benchmark Method works in practice.

Formula Reference

Go directly to the formulas, variables, and definitions.

Modeling Assumptions

Review the timing rules and implementation choices that make the method work properly in practice.

Legacy Method: A Simple Check

Follow one component and see where the commonly used Legacy Method breaks down.

Legacy Method: Full Technical Review

Understand where the traditional formulas fall short and why Reserve Sense built a different method.

FAQ

Find quick answers to common questions that come up after reading the other pages.

Developed by: Jonathan Fenn / Reserve Sense
Current version: v1.0
First published: April 24, 2026
Status: Current public specification