Research the above choices and choose the market that you feel most comfortable with.
Understand why you want to trade this market.
13 Study your chosen market.
Understand the fundamental drivers of that market.
Is there sufficient liquidity in the market to allow ease of entry and exit? If not, consider selecting another market.
Is there sufficient volatility in the market in order to achieve your profit objectives within your chosen trading timeframe? If not, consider selecting another market or timeframe.
Define a broad strategic concept that could be applied to this market to produce profits, such as: Capturing trends. Capturing momentum swings. Support or resistance. Reversal from extremes. Gap plays. Volatility or time decay option strategies.
What capital is required for trading your chosen market & timeframe? What margin do you require? What is the minimum position size? If you cannot afford this market, then either
Continue studying while saving more capital, or
Consider finding another more suitable market or timeframe that suits your available capital.
Understand the benefits and dangers of the leverage available in this market.
14 Study price movement.
Understand the movement of price from the perspective of supply and demand imbalances.
15 What is your preferred analysis style?
Technical Analysis?
Fundamental Analysis?
Statistical Analysis?
A combination of the above methods?
Research all of the above methods and find the style that you most relate to.
16 Study your chosen analysis style.
Become familiar with all analysis tools and choose those that you most relate to.
For example, with technical analysis: Do you prefer bar, candlestick or point & figure charts? Will you use tools such as Level II, market profile or time of sales? Do you prefer price action analysis or indicator based analysis?
17 Consider the need for personal coaching or mentoring.
Do you prefer live trading rooms?
Do you prefer after-market coaching?
Do you prefer one-on-one coaching?
Do you prefer a group or seminar setting?
Do you prefer self-coaching?
18 Risk Management.
What is the maximum risk that you will allow per trade?
What is the maximum portfolio heat that you will allow?
19 Money Management.
How will you determine position sizing?
When will you increase or decrease position size?
What are your plans for profit reinvestment?
What are your plans for drawing capital?
20 Rewards Program.
All work and no play isn’t fun, so please implement a rewards program.
How and when will you reward yourself for progress towards becoming a trader?
How and when will you reward yourself for profitability?
Documented trading plan – use this checklist as a guide for documenting your trading plan.
Documented procedural steps to ensure consistent application of your trading plan.
Documented routine: Pre-market routine. During trading. Post-market routine.
Documented record keeping and performance tracking process: Trading Journals, equity curves and Profit & Loss statements. Recording of personal trading performance and psychology. Will you use a spreadsheet, paper, or portfolio management software?
Documented review process: Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual reviews. Performance based review upon exceeding daily, weekly or monthly drawdown.
25 Business Management – Personnel:
Consider the need for the following support personnel: Broker. Adviser. Coach / Mentor. Trading Partner. Accountability Partner. Accountant / Bookkeeper.
Will they be employed or outsourced?
26 Business Management – Resources:
Ensure appropriate office space for trading Home office or dedicated trading office? Desk. Comfortable chair. Suitable lighting. Minimal distractions.
Ensure appropriate hardware for implementation of your trading plan: Computer system. Internet Service Provider. Telephone system.
Ensure appropriate software for implementation of your trading plan: Charting application. Data provider. Scanning software. Research tools. Testing software. Trading journals (may be soft copy or hard copy). Portfolio Management. Record Keeping / Bookkeeping.
27 Business Management - Contingency Planning:
Develop contingency plans for hardware failure.
Develop contingency plans for software failure: Of particular importance is your ability to contact your broker and exit all positions if you lose access to your charting and order entry applications.
Develop contingency plans for additional income streams, if required.
Halt trading criteria: During a trading session. Drawdown limits – daily, weekly or total.
28 Personal Management:
What is your plan to ensure maintenance or improvement of health? Establish plans for: Physical health. Fatigue management. Time away from the markets.
What is your plan to ensure a healthy mindset? Establish plans for: Relaxation Visualization / Affirmations.
29 Learn how to use all your trading hardware and software resources.
In particular, be familiar with all order types available. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of each, and when to use each type of entry or exit order.
Conduct back testing to ensure profitability, either by hand if your system is discretionary based, or with appropriate testing software if you system is rule based.
Conduct forward testing to ensure profitability, using a demo or simulation platform if available, otherwise via paper-trading.
Ensure any testing was conducted exactly in accordance with your trading plan, and over sufficient sample size to ensure valid results.
33 Are you ready for live trading?
Review the above steps and confirm all actions have been carried out.
Is your trading plan documented?
Is your trading routine and process documented?
Why do you believe you are ready?
What is your edge in the market?
34 Commence trading with the smallest possible position size.
Your goal is to consistently execute quality trades in accordance with your plan, not to make money.
Remember, success comes from the disciplined and consistent application of a positive expectance trading strategy, with proper application of risk management, money management, business management, personal development and trading psychology.
Success comes from continued exposure to the markets and developing an intuitive feel for market sentiment.
Success comes from unlearning the fear based decision making processes that were developed through your pre-trading life. As you continue to act in accordance with your trading plan, and eventually realize that the market cannot hurt you, your confidence will naturally build. You will learn to react to your system instinctively, without fear.
35 Ensure ongoing performance tracking and review.
Document all trades in your trading journal.
Document your personal performance in your trading journal.
Conduct regular reviews of your strategy and yourself, to identify areas of strength and weakness.
36 Achieve consistency in implementing your trading plan
Ensuring you NEVER allow your risk to exceed pre-planned limits.
37 Achieve breakeven consistency.
Reward yourself – breakeven is an excellent result.
38 Increase position size gradually.
Prove consistent success at each level, in application of the trading plan and profitability, before any further increase in position size.
Gradually increase up to the maximum risk allowable for your capital base.
39 Continue trading:
Your goal continues to be executing quality trades in accordance with your plan, not to make money. Do this and the money will follow.
Continue with your ongoing performance tracking and review process. Never stop learning.
Commit to ongoing education and constant improvement.
