A simple pre-trade checklist for a swing-trading thesis

Educational discussion only, not financial advice.

A swing-trade plan is easier to evaluate when written before entry:

1. Setup: define the timeframe and what market condition the setup assumes.
2. Trigger: name the observable event that would move the idea from watchlist to entry.
3. Invalidation: identify the price/action or fundamental change that disproves the thesis.
4. Risk: choose a maximum loss in advance; position size follows the risk limit, not conviction.
5. Exit logic: separate a target, a trailing rule, and a time stop.
6. Review: record whether the process was followed, not just the outcome.

This structure does not predict returns; it makes assumptions testable and discourages moving the goalposts after entry.