The Pre-Trade Checklist

A is a systematic list of conditions each trade must meet before entry: market condition, setup identification, entry confirmation, stop-loss placement, position sizing, risk-reward ratio, and calendar check. It takes 2-3 minutes and eliminates the most common entry errors. The most expensive trades in your journal will be ones where you skipped it.

The 10-Step Checklist

Use the checklist builder to create your personalized version. Customize the conditions to match your specific trading system.

Quick-Reference Version

For experienced traders who have internalized the full checklist:

Eight questions. Two minutes. Save yourself from impulsive trades.

Making the Checklist Stick

Prepare steps 1, 2, 3, and 9 the night before during your pre-market routine. At entry time, you only verify steps 4-8 and 10.

The Exception Trap

Every blown account has a story that starts with "I knew I should have waited, but..." The checklist exists for the moments when your emotions are loudest. Following it when you do not want to is the skill.

Track Your Compliance

Keep a record of checklist compliance for each trade. After 50+ trades, compare win rates on checklist-complete trades vs skipped/rushed trades. The difference makes compliance permanent.

Key Takeaways

A pre-trade checklist prevents avoidable mistakes that cost money
Every trade needs: setup ID, entry confirmation, stop, position size, target, R:R check, calendar check
If any condition fails, skip the trade
Following the checklist matters most when you least want to
Track compliance in your journal and compare win rates

Try This

20 XP

Create your own pre-trade checklist using the builder above. For your next trade (or paper trade), complete every step before entering. After the trade closes, note whether you followed the checklist and whether it was a win or loss. Start building this dataset.

Disclaimer

This educational content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading involves risk of loss. You should consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Swingfolio is a trade journaling tool, not a financial advisory service.