Investing Lessons & Trading Rules .

By Stockcharts.com

While stock market lessons are the non-negotiable foundations of investment survival, trading rules provide the indispensable backbone necessary to achieve profits and stock market mastery.  I’ve written previously about how I utilize my pocket pads and daily journal to help fine-tune my trading rules.  I won’t revisit that material here, and I certainly can’t list all my rules.  What I will hope to do, however, is to encourage you to assemble and customize your own personal rules binder.  Think of it as your pathway to profits.  The following list of suggested trading rules is offered as a potential starter kit.

1. Establish your risk and stop loss before you hit the buy key.
2. If it’s worth trading, it’s worth writing it down. Keep a journal.
3. Embrace the “Law of Probabilities” and execute your system with consistency.
4. Embrace technology and take it with you to track positions when you travel.
5. Investing is a competition.  Bring your “A” game mindset to the table every day.
6. Yesterday’s state of mind doesn’t matter.  The only thing that matters is today, here and now.
7. Listen to the market.  Focus on what t