Article/Trading Process
Trading Plan vs. Trading Execution
A plan records what you intended to do. Execution records what you actually did. The difference between them is useful evidence.
Key takeaways
- Record the plan before the result is known.
- Compare changes in size, stop, timing, and exit.
- Judge the process separately from the P&L.
Keep the plan and the actual trade separate
Before entry, record the setup, entry, stop, size, risk, and exit plan. After the trade, write down what happened without editing the original plan. Then compare the two records.
Look for specific differences. Did size increase? Did the stop move? Was the entry planned? Did the exit follow the stated reason? A winning trade can still contain poor execution, and a losing trade can still follow the plan well.
Where RulesFirst fits
RulesFirst keeps the original plan beside supported execution data and available behavioral events. Plan vs. Actual review helps the trader see where the trade changed without rewriting the plan after the outcome is known.
RulesFirst is read-only trading process software. It does not place, modify, route, or cancel orders, and it does not provide investment advice.
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