Trading Guides
Essential guides to help you prepare for the market, develop a study plan, and maintain a trading journal.
Preparing for the Market
Follow these 8 essential steps each morning to prepare for your trading day.
Chart Indices & Futures (ES, SPY, NQ, DIA, QQQ, VIX, DXY, etc.)
This will help you find the direction of where the market is going.
Chart Sectors (XLB, XLK, XLY, etc.)
This will help you see which sector this market is moving in and out of.
Chart tickers within sectors
If you see certain tickers within the sectors that look strong, you can find great plays in there.
Look for setups with the most confluences
The more confluences you have (strat setups, emas, trendlines, etc.), the more likely the trade may go in the direction you want it to go.
Check option contracts for favorable Greeks
Once you find the tickers you like, look for option contracts to make sure you have favorable greeks, implied volatility, volume and open interest.
Do a look back on what moved the market
Was there a big event or did we chop? It's important to see where we are on the daily or weekly to gauge where we are going.
Look for catalysts
Earnings, Overall Economic News (CPI, Fed Rates, etc.), Ratings, Company Events can add additional volatility to your tickers.
Review your rules and mentally prepare
Make sure to rewrite your rules to make sure you follow them. Morning meditation is a great way to mentally prepare for the day.
Study Plan
There are a lot of resources on YouTube that offer great videos on learning different strategies, but sometimes it's hard to know where to start or where to go. Here are some recommended paths to help you find the strategy that fits you.
Recommended Learning Path
- Start with the basics: Begin with charting fundamentals and price action
- Choose your methodology: Explore #theStrat or ICT to find what resonates with you
- Deep dive: Commit to one methodology for at least 3 months of focused study
- Paper trade: Practice your strategy without risking real capital
- Review and refine: Journal your trades and continuously improve
#theStrat
A mechanical approach to trading based on price action scenarios and time frame continuity.
ICT
Inner Circle Trader methodology focusing on institutional order flow and market structure.
Foundation Curriculum
Start with the essential topics to build a solid trading foundation.
Access Foundation CurriculumJournaling
Journaling is one of the most important parts of trading successfully, yet it is overlooked by many traders, especially beginners. Here are essential tips to help you maintain an effective trading journal.
Daily Reflection
Explain what you did well and what you did poorly. Identify specific areas that need improvement.
Track Your Trades
Document every trade you take. Was it called out or did you find it? What was your reasoning?
Compare to Ideal
Compare your actual entry, stop, and exit to the IDEAL trade you should have taken.
Wins & Mistakes
What did you execute well? What mistakes did you make? Be honest with yourself.
Future Planning
What will you do differently tomorrow? Set specific, actionable improvements.
Visual Documentation
Mark your entries, exits and notes on TradingView charts. Print them out, save them in a binder, and review regularly.
Journal Template
Date: _______________
Market Conditions: _______________
Trade Setup: _______________
Entry: ___ | Stop: ___ | Exit: ___
Result: _______________
What went well:
_______________
What to improve:
_______________
Tomorrow's focus:
_______________