"What Question Do You Ask Yourself Before You Enter a Trade?"

"Everyone has their own trading preferences, systems and psychology, however, one thing we can probably learn from each other, is the question we ask ourselves before we enter a trade. What is the question you ask yourself before you enter each trade? For me, it’s a good mix of lessons I have learnt over time and after filtering through all the marketing hype and what not, all boiled down to this question: "What Question Do You Ask Yourself Before You Enter a Trade?" 68th Before entering a trade, asking yourself the right questions helps you reduce risk, avoid emotional decisions, and stick to a solid trading plan. Here are the key questions to ask yourself: 🔍 Market Analysis Questions What is the current trend? Is the market bullish, bearish, or ranging? What is the setup or signal that triggered this trade idea? E.g., a moving average crossover, support/resistance break, candlestick pattern? What is the timeframe I’m trading? Am I looking at intraday, daily, or swing trade levels? Does this trade align with my overall market view or strategy? 💰 Risk Management Questions How much am I risking on this trade? Is it within my acceptable risk limit (e.g., 1–2% of capital)? What is my stop-loss level and why? What is my target level and why? What is the risk-to-reward ratio? Is it at least 1:2 or better? 🧠 Psychological Readiness Questions Am I emotionally calm and focused? Am I trading out of boredom, revenge, or FOMO? Am I okay with losing this trade? Can I accept the outcome without regret? 🧾 Trade Planning Questions Have I followed my trading plan? Is this trade part of my tested system? Have I double-checked news or events? Are there any economic releases or earnings reports that could cause volatility? What is my exit strategy? Will I scale out, move the stop-loss to break-even, or trail it? What will I do if the trade goes against me quickly? 📈 Post-Trade Reflection (for after the trade) Did I follow my rules? What can I learn from this trade? By asking these questions consistently, you’ll become more disciplined and objective — two key traits of successful traders. Would you like a printable version of this checklist? “If I enter this trade, am I confident enough to not modify the system I have during live price action?” That’s coming from my own experience, would love to hear other questions from the community!"