Before entering
Record date, time zone, symbol, direction, size, entry, stop, target and planned risk. Add the rationale, invalidation condition and context. Do not write the rationale after seeing the outcome as though it had been decided beforehand.
After execution
Record close time and price, fees, net outcome and whether the plan was followed. Distinguish a correctly executed loss from a gain achieved by breaking rules. Screenshots can support notes but cannot replace execution records.
Review groups
Compare instruments, sessions and setup types. Review averages, tail losses and size changes. Retain uncomfortable trades: excluding them changes the diagnosis. Small samples do not establish causality or skill.
Journal versus audit
A journal stores reasoning that the broker does not know. An audit reviews compatible history, metrics and risk with privacy controls. AIMPATFX offers account auditing and AIM analysis; this template is not a promise of automatic synchronization with any spreadsheet.
Illustrative example
A row should reconstruct the intended plan, actual execution and changes. The sample buys one unit at 100 and sells at 110 with a cost of 1, leaving 9 net units. Its prices are fictional and do not represent a real asset.
Review checklist
- Download a template and keep the original.
- Record plans and outcomes without rewriting history.
- Separate cash contributions from trade results.
- Never store account passwords or tokens in a journal.