TradesMatrix Guide
How to Keep a Trading Journal
The best journal is one you can maintain consistently. Use the same core fields and review cadence so trades can be compared without changing your definitions each week.
Record the trade facts
- Log the instrument, direction, date and time, entry, exit, and size.
- Record the planned stop and target as well as the realized outcome.
- Include commissions, fees, and slippage where available.
- Use broker records to verify prices, quantities, and realized P&L.
Capture the decision
- Write a short reason for entry before or immediately after execution.
- Note the setup and market context using repeatable tags.
- After closing, record whether you followed the plan and what you would review next time.
Review on a schedule
Review a fixed period or a sufficiently large group of trades. Separate different strategies when their risk and holding periods differ. Track a few relevant measures, such as net P&L, average win/loss, and drawdown, and note the sample size beside each result.
Keep records dependable
Do not edit past entries simply to make a result look cleaner. If an entry needs correction, preserve a clear audit trail where possible and maintain independent copies of important statements and records.
Educational information only, not investment or financial advice. Calculator outputs depend on the inputs and assumptions used; they do not predict results or remove trading risk.