TRADING JOURNAL
What to record in a trading journal
Capture assumptions and actual outcomes without confusing an unfinished plan with a closed trade.
Open the related tool →Keep plans and completed trades distinct
A useful journal makes it clear whether a record describes an intention or an actual outcome. A planned trade may have an entry assumption, stop and targets. A closed trade needs actual entry, exit, quantity and fees. Do not insert a planned target as the exit simply to complete a form: that would manufacture performance.
Record enough detail to reproduce the result
For each completed trade, record the asset, direction, date, actual entry and exit prices, quantity and total fees in USD. Add a short note explaining the original reason, what happened and any execution differences. Use a consistent convention for grouping fills; this simple journal is not a full broker reconciliation or tax-lot engine.
| Example | Calculation | Net result |
|---|---|---|
| Long: entry 100, exit 110, quantity 2, fees 3 | (110 − 100) × 2 − 3 | $17 |
| Short: entry 100, exit 90, quantity 2, fees 3 | (100 − 90) × 2 − 3 | $17 |
| Long: entry 100, exit 95, quantity 2, fees 3 | (95 − 100) × 2 − 3 | −$13 |
The short example illustrates directional arithmetic only. It does not model borrow availability, funding, margin calls or liquidation. Keep omitted costs visible in notes or include relevant realized costs in the fee figure according to your recording convention.
Use the journal on this website
- Choose the portfolio that owns the record.
- Enter actual values for a completed trade, or retain a planned record until it is complete.
- Check that fees have not been counted twice.
- Save and confirm the save status before leaving.
- Use date and status filters when reviewing outcomes or exporting.
Read summary statistics in context
Two wins and one loss produce a win rate of about 66.67%. That statistic alone does not show profitability: two $5 wins and one $20 loss total −$10. Review monetary outcomes, costs and sample size alongside the count of wins. A small set of trades does not establish a reliable future edge.
Write notes you can use later
Replace vague notes such as “bad trade” with a concrete observation: “entered before the planned trigger” or “exit filled below the assumed stop.” This separates a process issue from a price move. Journal records do not update holdings or the daily diary automatically. Keep those separate records consistent manually and preserve a JSON backup of the workspace.
Frequently asked questions
Do planned trades affect closed-trade performance?
No. Closed outcomes are summarized separately.
Does a profitable journal prove a strategy will keep working?
No. Recorded outcomes describe that sample and its assumptions, not future results.
Educational examples only. No trades are executed. Check source data and assumptions before relying on a result.
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