Being prepared

• Posted by Ivanhoff
• on October 30th, 2008

Make a list of everything that can go wrong and determine how you will respond to that situation. That will be the key to your success – knowing how to respond to the unexpected.”

Van Tharp

Ask 3 essential questions:

1. Why am I taking this particular trade? ( is it part of carefully prepared plan, or is it an emotional reaction; what is the catalyst behind the move and does it have the potential to sent the stock’s price higher; are there other better trading alternatives for my money)

2. What if a am wrong? (figure out where and when I will exit, before I initiate the trade; where is my stop loss and does it makes sense to be put there; how much am I risking? How am I going to protect my capital against “unexpected” gaps)

3. What if I am right? (how am I going to protect my profits; where I would exit and why)

Remember that good trading is all about managing risk. If you are entering a position without knowing where you are getting out when you’re wrong, then you’re sunk before you begin.

The information in this blog post represents my own opinions and does not contain a recommendation for any particular security or investment. I or my affiliates may hold positions or other interests in securities mentioned in the Blog, please see my Disclaimer page for my full disclaimer.

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