Frequency Rules
This article explains frequency rules for variables in Model Reef.
You will learn:
How variable frequency is defined.
How frequency interacts with model periodicity.
How to choose sensible frequencies for different types of variables.
Frequency describes how often a variable accrues within the model timeline.
Variable frequency vs model periodicity
The model periodicity sets the base grid, for example:
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Yearly
Each variable has a frequency or schedule that tells the timing engine how often accruals occur.
In most cases:
Variable frequency is aligned with model periodicity (for example a monthly variable in a monthly model).
You can also represent one-off events, quarterly items in a monthly model, or annual items in a quarterly model using schedules.
Common frequency settings
Typical patterns:
Every period
Revenue or Opex variables that recur each week or month.
Quarterly
Tax instalments, some professional fees, certain leases.
Annual
Registration fees, annual insurance, one-off retainers.
One off
Single payments, unusual items, one-time events.
You express these through the variable's timing settings using either simple frequency choices or explicit schedules.
Frequency and amount patterns
Frequency interacts with amount patterns as follows:
A variable can have the same amount each time it accrues (for example a fixed retainer).
Or it can use drivers or formulas to vary amounts period by period even if the frequency is regular.
Range-based presets can spread a total amount evenly across a range of periods.
The timing engine uses frequency to decide when to apply the calculated amounts.
Frequency and model changes
If you change the model's periodicity:
The model timeline is regenerated.
Variable frequencies are interpreted against the new base grid.
Accrual patterns are updated accordingly.
For example, if you move from a monthly to a quarterly model:
Monthly repeating variables aggregate naturally into quarters.
Quarterly variables may become single events inside each quarter.
One-off events are mapped to the quarter that contains their date.
You should always review key variables after changing periodicity to ensure behaviour still aligns with your intent.
Choosing frequencies in practice
Guidelines:
Use every period for most recurring revenue, COGS and Opex items.
Use quarterly or annual for items that genuinely occur that way, such as some tax or regulatory fees.
Use one off for major non-recurring events such as large one-time projects.
Avoid using unnecessarily complex frequencies when a simpler pattern plus drivers will do.
Clean frequency choices keep the timing model understandable and traceable for reviewers.
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