Color Codes of The Trade Journal

The Tabs on the Journal are Color Coded for Easy Understanding of the Trade

Primary Tab Color Coding   (see below for expiration tab coding)

Note: Orders are automatically updated when you check order status. Just make sure to select the time frame to cover the trades that need updating

Light Blue

Active Live Order
This indicates that you have a current live order


Dark Blue

Trade – Open
This indicates the opening transaction of a trade


Gray

Expired or Canceled Order
This can be from a order that you canceled, or a day order that did not get filled


Green

Closed Trade – Profit
This indicates a trade that you closed for a profit


Red

Closed Trade – Loss
This indicated a trade that you closed for a loss


Yellow

Closed Trade – Unmatched – Requires action to match to related
trade.  Expand tab to see detail of trade.

 

Unmatched Trades can happen if there are multiple trades and an entry trade needs to be identified or because a multi-leg trade was split on exit, or change of stock position when an option expired (exercise/assignment)

This is easily matched by clicking the edit icon (pencil) and selected which open order to match to.  In some cases there may only be one, and it is simply a verification.


Expiration Tab/Tagging Colors

Red or Green with No Color Tagging

This indicated the option trade expired Out of the Money (OTM)
There were no options exercised or assigned through expiration


Red or Green with Dark Green Color Tag

This indicated that there were ITM options exercised/assigned
However, there was no change is stock ownership.  Example: Bull Call where both legs were exercised/assigned.


Red or Green with Yellow Color Tag

This indicates a change in stock ownership through exercise/assignment
This will happen with single leg options trade or where one leg of a spread was ITM at expiration


It is important to reconcile expired traded to properly display profit. If there are unreconciled expired options, the reconciliation window will automatically display when you go to the options tab.

Click Here for Life Of Trade Icon/Color Codes

Portfolio

Manage Your Portfolio from the Platform

With Brokerage Integration you can trade directly from the platform with select brokerage firms.  Currently TD Ameritrade and Choice Trade are available.  With more on the way.

 

 


Brokerage Access

Trade directly with select Brokers.

The Broker menu is located in the lower left corner of the screen and is always accessible. From here you can see your balance, positions, and orders.

There is also an integrated Order Ticket. This can be accessed directly or from any of the “Buy”, “Sell” or “Trade” buttons or from clicking on the Action Icon menu.


Evaluate Existing Positions

Positions will automatically show on the options chain for the active brokerage account.

You can also access directly from Broker Positions.  Select “Analyze” from the Action menu. 

This will display the current values as well as entry cost and current P/L.

Here you can also close the position or evaluate adjustments on the trade.


Journal Navigation

It’s easy to look up trades.  Choose from Stock symbols, tags used (ex:  #bullCall, #longStraddle), Notes containing certain words or phrases, or date ranges from 1 Day to 1 Year.

On the individual Trade tabs, click the  icon to expand the trade detail.  To edit/add tags, notes,  to the trade entry, click  then ‘save’ when completed.

Once the Trade Tab is expanding , you have additional options:  The “Replay” icon, ,  sends a trade from the Journal to Backtest Analysis.  You can delete a Journal Entry by clicking on .


Virtual Account Overview

Virtual Trading gives you the real trading experience without risking any money.     It is a valuable “next step” learning tool – designed to mimic the trading experience as closely as possible.

You’ll start with a $100,000 account.  Virtual, of course.

Trades are executed during Market hours – 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern Time, however there is a 15 minute delay after Market open for orders to begin executing.

As with Live Accounts, there are limits on trades if there is not sufficient Buying Power in your Virtual Account.   There can be expensive Spread/Margin Requirements to adhere to.

Virtual Accounts do have limitations that Live Accounts do not have:

Virtual Accounts are not subject or responsive to Corporate actions such as buyouts, name or symbol changes, stock/option splits and strike price adjustments to name some examples.

Virtual Accounts are “Auto-Journaled”.   This automatically keeps record of all trades for later analysis and reconciling.

These practice accounts are identified by a yellow bar on the left side of the account window.

Virtual Accounts are powered by Choice Trade to provide the real trading experience.


Order Types - How to Enter

Market Order are Buy or Sell orders to be executed immediately at current the Market Price.  Execution of the trade is more important than price.   As long as there is a willing buyer or seller, the trade will be executed.

Limit Orders (including Net Debit and Net Credit) allow you to set the Maximum Price to Buy or Minimum Price to Sell a security .  Because these orders have ‘limits’ they may not be executed.  When they are, they will be executed at the Limit Price – or better.
Low Volume, a slow or very fast market may mean your Limit Price may not be reached and thus, your order not executed.

Stop & Stop Limit Orders

These are protective orders, to be placed on a current position.

A Stop Order becomes a Market Order when the Stop Price is reached.   This does not mean you will get the Stop Price when the Order executes.  You are willing to Buy/Sell at any price once your Price is reached to have the Order execute. 

A Stop Limit Order generally offers more protection:   Once the Stop Price is reached, the order converts to a Limit Order to execute once that price – or better- is reached.   Thus, there are two values to enter on the Order Ticket for Stop Limit Orders.

How to enter a Stop Order/Stop Limit Order:

On the Positions tab, click “Close” for the Stock/ETF entry you want to add a Stop/Stop Limit Order to.  You’ll be navigated to the Order Ticket tab to continue. 

On the right side of the Order Ticket (Exit Order):

1.  Change Exit Condition from default “Limit” to “Stop” or “Stop Limit
2.  Enter Stop Price.  For Stop Limit Orders,  the Stop Price will be the higher of the two values.
Enter Limit Price, if applicable.
3.  Change Duration from Day (default) to GTC (which may vary by brokerage)
4.  Review & Submit

Notes:  As long as it’s not a Day order, the Stop/Stop Limit order will remain Live until you cancel the order or it executes*.   (Some brokerages have expiration dates on such orders)

Trailing % and Trailing $

As the names suggest, these orders follow trades upward by a set $ or %.  They are placed on a current position.    Click “Close” from the Positions Tab, then follow the steps below:

1.  Change Exit Condition to “Trailing % (or $)
2.  Enter price or percentage to exit trade
3.  Select Duration (Day/GTC)
4.  Review, then Submit

This will be a Live Order until it Executes, Expires or is Cancelled.

Bracket Order – One Cancels the Other (OCO)

 

  1. Opening Order OR the existing Position to Close
  2.  Select “Bracket (OCO)”
  3.  If the trade is favorable, the Limit Price will trigger to close and secure profit.
  4.  If the trade is unfavorable, this Stop (or Stop Limit) Order can limit your loss
  5.  Duration: “Day” or “Good Til Canceled”
  6.  Summary of the Bracket-OCO Order
  7.  Review for accuracy, then Submit on the next screen