Trading journal guides, strategy breakdowns and tool reviews

Practical writing for traders who want the review to be worth reopening — what to record, how to read the numbers back, and which tools hold up. Updated as the product and the market change.

Latest — all articles

44 articles

Guides9 min
TradingView Automated Trading: From Alerts to Broker Execution and Trade Journaling

How TradingView automated trading works: where alerts become orders, why fills differ from signals, and how to journal executed trades the right way.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Guides8 min
Interactive Brokers Trading Journal: Auto Sync Your IBKR Trades

Auto sync Interactive Brokers trades into your trading journal with IBKR Flex Queries: setup steps, what gets imported, sync timing, and fixes for common errors.

Updated 3 Oct 2026Read →
Journals9 min
Why Every Trader Needs a Trading Journal

Why every trader needs a trading journal: memory hides revenge trades and luck. Use a session, weekly, and monthly review that ends in one decision, not a log.

Updated 20 Sept 2026Read →
Tools18 min
Optimize Your Trading: Best Laptops for Day Trading

Laptops for day trading: CPU, RAM, SSD, display, and reliability specs — plus top picks, multi-device setups, and why hardware is risk management.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Guides15 min
What Is a Trading Plan And How to Build One That Wins

What is a trading plan: identity, markets, entry/exit rules, risk sizing, review routine, and how journaling proves whether you follow it.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Tools5 min
The Best Computer Monitors for Trading in 2026

Choose computer monitors for trading: size, QHD/4K, IPS, multi-monitor vs ultrawide, ergonomics, and desk layouts — plus GPU and FAQ tips.

Updated 18 Mar 2026Read →
Tools16 min
Finding the Best Trading Computer for Peak Performance in 2026

Find the best trading computer for your style: CPU, RAM, GPU, monitors, and 2026 spec tables for day traders, swing traders, and quants — plus setup tips.

Updated 18 Mar 2026Read →
Guides10 min
What Percentage of Day Traders Are Successful and Why It Matters

What percentage of day traders succeed? What studies in Taiwan, Brazil and the US actually found, why headline numbers mislead, and how to improve your odds.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies6 min
Options Trading Tips: 8 Rules You Can Track (Including Weeklies)

Eight options trading tips you can measure: IV, Greeks, sizing by max loss, spreads, exits, weekly options and fills, plus what to log for each one.

Updated 5 Oct 2026Read →
Journals20 min
Mastering Profit Loss Analysis for Smarter Trading

Profit loss analysis for traders: tag trades, filter setups, avoid bias, profit factor focus, and tools beyond spreadsheet P&L totals.

Updated 18 Mar 2026Read →
Tools18 min
Portfolio Visualizer Backtest: Step-by-Step Guide

Run a Portfolio Visualizer backtest: set up assets, read CAGR and drawdown, avoid pitfalls, and connect backtest results to live trade journaling.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Tools15 min
A Trader's Guide to Auto Import Broker Connections

Auto import broker trades via API or CSV: setup, security, data mapping, and how automated sync keeps your trading journal accurate without manual entry.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Tools15 min
Master Your Risk with a Futures Position Size Calculator

Futures position size calculator: account risk, tick value, stop distance, contract count formula, spreadsheet setup, and journaling every sized trade.

Updated 18 Mar 2026Read →
Guides14 min
What Is MFE And How Can It Improve Your Trading Results

What is MFE (Maximum Favorable Excursion)? Learn how to calculate it, read real trade examples, and use MFE data to improve exits and profit targets.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Journals7 min
Daily P&L: What It Means, How It's Calculated, and How to Track It

Daily P&L is your gain or loss for one session. What your broker's Daily P/L includes, how thinkorswim, IBKR and Webull calculate it, and a net example.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Journals20 min
Trading Journal Excel: Template, Columns & Formulas

Trading journal Excel template with columns, formulas, and a weekly review. See when a spreadsheet is enough — and when broker import beats logging by hand.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Guides17 min
What is backtesting: How to Validate Your Trading Ideas Without Losing Money

What is backtesting: replay strategies on historical data, key metrics, pitfalls like overfitting, and how it pairs with paper trading and journals.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Guides12 min
What Does PNL Stand for in Trading? A Plain Language Guide

What does P&L stand for: profit and loss basics, realized vs unrealized, how to calculate trading P&L, and tools to track it automatically.

Updated 18 Mar 2026Read →
Journals12 min
Best Trading Journal 2026: 7 Apps and Excel Compared

Seven trading journals and Excel compared on broker import, review features, assets and price (checked 10 October 2026), plus how to choose in 15 minutes.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Tools18 min
How to Build a Pivot Table for Smarter Trading Analysis

How to build a pivot table in Excel or Sheets: clean trade logs, summarize P&L by setup and session, and spot edges faster than manual review.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Guides21 min
Trading Plan Template: How to Build Discipline and Consistency

Trading plan template: goals, setups, entry/exit rules, risk limits, and review routine — plus how to track adherence with a journal.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies7 min
Best Forex Trading Strategies: 7 Methods and How to Measure Them

Best forex trading strategies compared: trend, breakout, range, pullback, carry, news and scalping, with sessions, costs and what to log for each one.

Updated 5 Oct 2026Read →
Guides7 min
Loss Ratio Formula in Trading: Calculate, Read and Use It

Trading loss ratio formula: gross loss ÷ gross profit. Worked example, how it relates to profit factor and win rate, and why to track it per setup.

Updated 5 Oct 2026Read →
Journals20 min
Google Sheets Trading Journal Template

Google Sheets trading journal template: columns, formulas, equity curve, dashboards, and when broker sync beats manual spreadsheet logging.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Journals9 min
Best Free Trading Journal in 2026: What Free Actually Means

Compare the best free trading journal for 2026. Tell a real free plan from a 30-trade cap, then pick a spreadsheet, uncapped app, or generous free tier.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies10 min
Best Trading Strategies: 5 Styles Explained and How to Measure Yours

The best trading strategies explained: momentum, mean reversion, breakout, swing and day trading — entry, stop and exit rules, plus how to test which one pays you.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Journals14 min
Custom Profit and Loss Template Google Sheets Guide

Build a profit and loss template in Google Sheets: income, COGS, expenses, net profit formulas, and when to graduate to a trading journal.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Journals17 min
Options Trading Journal Spreadsheet Template

Options trading journal spreadsheet template: columns for spreads, Greeks, premium, max risk, and weekly review — Excel or Sheets, not the TradeReview app.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Tools7 min
Trading Equity Curve Simulator: Monte Carlo Risk Guide

Use a trading equity curve simulator with your win rate and R:R: Monte Carlo paths, drawdowns, losing streaks, and psychology before risking live capital.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Journals11 min
Calculating Trading Profit: The Complete Guide for Traders

Calculate trading profit accurately: net P&L, commissions, realized vs unrealized gains, and tax-aware tracking for disciplined traders.

Updated 9 Oct 2026Read →
Guides19 min
What Is Maximum Drawdown? A Trader’s Guide to This Key Risk Metric

Maximum drawdown (MDD) explained: peak-to-trough loss, formula, why it matters for risk, and how to track it in your trading journal.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies6 min
Day Trading Chart Patterns: Continuation, Reversal and How to Track Them

Day trading chart patterns explained: flags, pennants, triangles, opening range breakouts, double tops, head and shoulders, with stops, targets and tags.

Updated 5 Oct 2026Read →
Guides6 min
Risk Management for Traders: Position Sizing, Stops and Loss Limits

Risk management for traders: the 1% rule, sizing from the stop for stocks, futures and options, stop types, daily loss limits, open risk and drawdown math.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Tools15 min
9 Best Investment Tracking Apps for Savvy Investors (2026)

Compare the best investment tracking apps for 2026: portfolio sync, analytics, pricing, and which tools fit buy-and-hold vs active traders.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies8 min
Bull Put Spread Examples: 6 Setups With the Math Worked Out

Six bull put spread examples with credit, max loss, break-even and required win rate worked out, plus the journal fields that show which setups pay.

Updated 5 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies16 min
How to Backtest Trading Strategies Efficiently

Backtest trading strategies on historical data: entry/exit rules, costs, win rate, drawdown, and common pitfalls before going live.

Updated 13 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies21 min
The 6 Best Times to Trade Futures for Disciplined Traders in 2026

Best times to trade futures: market opens, session overlaps, economic releases, seasonal patterns, and how to journal when you perform best.

Updated 10 Aug 2026Read →
Strategies17 min
5 Disciplined Profit Taking Strategies for Active Traders

Five profit taking strategies for active traders — targets, trailing stops, technical, scaled and ATR exits — plus stop placement and an MFE audit of your exits.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Guides5 min
How to Calculate Win Rate in Trading: Formula, Examples and Sample Size

Win rate = winning trades ÷ total closed trades. How to count break-evens, pair it with expectancy, find your break-even win rate, and how many trades you need.

Updated 10 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies15 min
How to Set Stop Losses for Smarter Trading

Learn how to set stop losses with practical strategies that work. Our guide helps you manage risk, protect capital, and trade with more confidence.

Updated 10 Sept 2025Read →
Strategies17 min
Finding Your Perfect Trading Time Frame: A Trader's Guide

Discover how to choose the right trading time frame for your strategy and personality. A practical guide to day, swing, and position trading styles.

Updated 4 Sept 2025Read →
Guides8 min
Paper Trading: How to Practice Trading With Fake Money

Paper trading explained: open a free TradingView, thinkorswim or IBKR demo, set a real balance, risk 1% per trade, log 50 trades, then decide when to go live.

Updated 14 Oct 2026Read →
Strategies6 min
What Is Scalping Trading? How It Works and What It Really Costs

What is scalping trading: how short-hold trades work, the cost math that decides profitability, risk rules, and what to track to know if scalping pays.

Updated 5 Oct 2026Read →
Journals9 min
What Is a Trading Journal? Definition, Fields, and Example

What is a trading journal? See how it differs from a broker log, the fields that unlock analysis, a worked example, and how to write your first entry tonight.

Updated 20 Sept 2026Read →

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