A post-trade review is a record of what was planned, what happened, and what differed. It helps separate the quality of a decision process from a single profitable or losing outcome.
Record the Same Fields Each Time
Capture the instrument, date, setup condition, entry and stop, quantity, intended exit, actual fills, fees, funding, and any management changes. Note whether the entry rule triggered and whether the invalidation was respected. A screenshot can help, but a short written description makes the decision easier to compare later.
Example: A Winning Trade Can Still Reveal a Mistake
Suppose a trader planned a $40 risk limit but doubled quantity after a late entry, making the initial price exposure about $80 before costs. The trade later closes profitably. A result-only review might label the decision successful. A process review would record that the risk plan was exceeded, then investigate whether the late entry or sizing rule can be improved. The profit does not erase the deviation.
Do Not Overread a Small Sample
A handful of trades can reveal clear execution mistakes but is not enough to establish a stable win rate or reliable edge. Group examples by a rule defined in advance and include losing, missed, and no-trade outcomes. Avoid changing several rules at once, because the next review will not show which change mattered.
Classify What Happened
Separate a thesis error from an execution error, a risk-limit breach, and an ordinary outcome that followed the plan. Record late entries, stop changes, order type, and fees as observable facts rather than labels such as “bad discipline.” This makes it easier to identify one process change that can be tested in future reviews.
Turn Notes Into One Specific Process Change
Choose one repeated and observable issue, such as failing to update quantity after an entry changes, and define the next action that would prevent it. Keep the previous records so later reviews can test whether the process changed. CME Group’s trade plan worksheet can help structure pre-trade assumptions that can later be compared with actual execution.
Educational information only; not investment advice. Futures and perpetual products can result in rapid losses. Exchange rules, fees, contract units, and available products vary. Verify details with your venue.
