How to Develop a Successful Forex Trading Plan

What is a Trading Plan？ 

The trading plan is a comprehensive and strategic approach to follow based on goals, trading strategy and risk level. It is a decision-making method for a trader that helps in deciding what to trade when to trade and determining the size of a trade. It is simply a designed framework that guides the entire trading process.

Trading plans are usually personalized to better suit individual trading objectives. There is no absolute plan to be followed, however, there are different aspects to consider when developing a plan. These aspects include the trading goals, risk tolerance, investment capital, psychology, the motivation for trading, trading tools and risk management rules.

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!'- Benjamin Franklin

A trading plan should be distinguished from a trading strategy, which is more focused on when to enter and exit a trade. A trading strategy will be based on market technical analysis or fundamental analysis to enhance trading profitability and minimize risk exposure. The trading strategy is a part of the overall trading plan. 

Why is Trading with a Plan Important？ 

When you open a forex account, developing a plan to serve as a guiding framework is very crucial to achieve consistent profitability in trading. It is pretty much like a road map that keeps you on track to your trading goals. A good plan will help you in making rational trading decisions, by sticking to its rules. Benefits of having a plan also include:

• Discipline: having a plan with a predefined set of rules will help you maintain discipline in trading by sticking to these rules, and keeping you from letting emotions control your trading decisions.  

• Trading with ease: by sticking to a plan, you wont feel stressed as you know what should be done. A clear and precise plan lays out all the needed criteria that must be met before making a trading decision.  

• Performance improvement: keeping a journal of your trading activity is a key component of a successful plan. It helps in assessing the performance of your strategy, thus improving the weakness points to enhance your trading performance.

• Objective decision making: since trading success is basically based on making the right decisions, having a plan can help in making objective trading decisions, that will give you more confidence with less emotional engagement. 

How to Develop a Trading Plan 

You have to do your own research and create a plan that suits your individual trading objectives. Remember that the strategy you choose for trading will have a key effect. A new plan should be tested first to make sure you are on the right track. You can test your plan on a demo account before applying on live trading. Continue testing it regularly, to measure your success by sorting out what works and what does not work for you.

To create a successful Forex Trading Plan, follow these easy steps

Define your motivation: Outlining your motivation for trading is a crucial step in developing your plan. Ask yourself why you want to trade and what you want to achieve.

1. Set your trading goals:

Define your trading objectives and set realistic goals. Remember that the goals should be consistent with your trading strategy, investment capital and risk management rules.

2. Know what type of trader you are: 

Its important to acknowledge what type of trader you are. The plan you create should depend on your trading style, strategy, personality and knowledge. There are different trading strategies including swing trading, day trading, scalping and position trading. You just need to know which category you belong to.

3. Evaluate your market knowledge: 

Your plan depends on which market you trade. For example, a forex trading plan will differ from a stock trading plan. Assessing your knowledge of the market will reflect on the plan you create and the strategy youll decide to adopt.

4. Keep a trading journal: 

Keeping a detailed trading journal will help you identify what needs to be improved and what you should stick to. A trading diary should include trade details including size, entry and exit points in addition to targets and risks. Writing down your decisions and emotions will also be a huge assist. The more detailed a journal is, the more insightful it is.

5. Select a risk to reward ratio: 

Setting your risk limit is essential to protect your capital, especially in a very dynamic market like the forex. Some traders prefer to take on lower risks in the beginning, while some prefer higher risk hoping to make bigger profits. It‘s totally up to each trader to decide. However, it’s advised to trade with a low risk to reward ratio, a preferred risk-reward ratio would be 1:2. This means that the potential profit will be at least double the potential loss. For example, if youre risking $100 on a trade, the potential gain should be $200.

FAQs

How does a forex trading plan help with trade performance？

A precise plan can help by identifying expected outcomes, setting realistic goals, understanding the risk profile, which in turn defines the trading strategy and style. This helps to eliminate emotional decisions. However, formulating a trading plan is just an initial step to what comes next. Having a plan allows the trader to track the trading performance.

Can I adjust/change my forex trading plan？ 

Absolutely! Any forex trading plan is totally customizable to each phase of your trading journey. The more experienced you become, the more chances you‘ll apply to your plan. Through trading, you’ll learn more about the markets and yourself as a trader. A plan should change based on changing market conditions and along with the changes in your own trading skills. You might also find that your entries, exits, stop loss targets, and profit targets all change when your trading goals change. 

Is using a forex trading plan guarantee success？ 

The truth is theres no magical recipe or a specific plan that guarantees success in trading. However, a good trading plan can pave the way for successful trading and avoid possible risks. Having a plan can make it easier to enhance your trading skills over time and get closer to becoming a successful trader.

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Original Article: How to Develop Successful a Forex Trading Plan

Disclaimer: This post is from Aximdaily and it is considered a marketing publication and does not constitute investment advice or research. Its content represents the general views of our editors and does not consider individual readers' personal circumstances, investment experience, or current financial situation.