Help me research and document a potential trade in [INSTRUMENT AND MARKET] for my [ACCOUNT TYPE AND JURISDICTION]. My trade horizon is [TIME HORIZON], and my thesis or setup is: [TRADE THESIS AND DATA]. My account constraints are: [ACCOUNT SIZE AND RISK RULES]. Use these market data points and sources, with timestamps: [MARKET DATA AND SOURCES]. This is educational decision support, not personalized investment advice. Do not tell me that I should enter a trade, predict returns, guarantee outcomes, invent live prices, or present unsourced information as current. If the information is stale, incomplete, or cannot support a conclusion, say so clearly. Produce a trade research memo with: 1. A neutral thesis summary and the conditions that would confirm or weaken it.
2. A fact-versus-assumption table, including source date and time for every market-dependent fact. 3. A scenario table for bullish, base, and adverse cases. Show the numerical method, not just percentages. 4. A risk plan with entry condition, invalidation level, stop approach, target or exit condition, maximum dollar loss, position-size formula, liquidity/spread concerns, and event risk. 5. A pre-trade checklist covering earnings, economic releases, corporate actions, market hours, order type, fees, tax considerations to investigate, and concentration/correlation. 6. Questions to take to a licensed financial professional if this could materially affect my finances. Use only numbers I provide; if a calculation needs a missing number, give the formula and label the result unavailable. Before answering, recompute all arithmetic and check that proposed maximum loss does not exceed my stated risk rule. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [INSTRUMENT AND MARKET] | State the ticker or instrument, exchange or market, and whether it is stock, option, ETF, futures, crypto, or another asset. | ABCD (fictional ticker) common stock, NASDAQ |
| [ACCOUNT TYPE AND JURISDICTION] | State the account type and country or regulatory jurisdiction relevant to the trade. | US taxable brokerage account |
| [TIME HORIZON] | State the intended holding period and whether the idea is intraday, swing, or longer-term. | Swing trade, 2-6 weeks |
| [TRADE THESIS AND DATA] | Describe the setup, catalyst, technical levels, fundamentals, and what would make the idea wrong. | Considering a breakout only if price closes above $468 with above-average volume; thesis fails if it closes below the recent support area near $448. |
| [ACCOUNT SIZE AND RISK RULES] | Provide account size, maximum loss per trade, exposure limits, and any borrowing or options restrictions. | $45,000 account; maximum loss $225 per trade; no margin; maximum 20% in one position. |
| [MARKET DATA AND SOURCES] | Paste prices, dates, earnings or event dates, volumes, and links or named sources with timestamps. | Closing price $465.20 on 2026-09-22 from Nasdaq; next earnings date not confirmed; 20-day average volume must be checked before entry. |
How to use
- Paste dated price and event information from sources you trust; do not rely on the model to supply live market data.
- Set a maximum dollar loss before asking for position sizing.
- Check every calculation with your broker’s figures, including contract multiplier, spread, commissions, and order details.
- Then send: “Stress-test this memo against a 10% overnight gap and show which controls still work and which do not.”
Variations
Options structure
Use this before comparing defined-risk option structures.
Compare [OPTION STRATEGIES] for a view on [UNDERLYING AND THESIS] using this chain data: [OPTION CHAIN WITH TIMESTAMP]. My maximum loss is [RISK LIMIT], and expiration horizon is [EXPIRATION]. Produce a payoff and risk table showing debit or credit, maximum profit and loss where defined, breakevens, Greeks limitations, assignment or exercise risk, liquidity, and event risk. Do not invent premiums or imply a strategy is suitable. Before answering, check contract multipliers and all payoff arithmetic. Ask up to 3 questions only if a required input is missing.
Trade journal review
Use this after a closed trade to find process errors without hindsight bias.
Review this completed trade journal: [TRADE RECORD]. My stated rules were [TRADING PLAN]. Produce a process review separating plan quality, execution quality, market outcome, and luck. Identify rule violations, missing records, and one specific rule change only if the evidence supports it. Do not judge a good process as bad solely because the trade lost, or a bad process as good because it won. Before answering, flag conclusions based on hindsight. Ask up to 3 questions only if required inputs are missing.
Earnings risk brief
Use this before holding a position through an earnings release.
Create an earnings-risk brief for [COMPANY AND POSITION] using [DATED SOURCES]. Include confirmed reporting date and time, position exposure, prior earnings move data if supplied, key operating questions, scenario effects, liquidity and volatility considerations, and decisions that must be made before the event. Do not predict the earnings result or use unstated prices. Before answering, label every fact with its source date and flag unverified event timing. Ask up to 3 questions only if required inputs are missing.
Tips
- A risk limit should be a dollar amount and a position-exposure cap; a percentage alone can hide how much you can actually lose.
- For options, the trade record needs strike, expiration, premium, contract count, multiplier, and spread. Missing any of these can make a payoff calculation wrong.
- Timestamp market facts, especially earnings dates, prices, and short-interest data. A correct analysis based on stale data can still lead to a bad decision.
- Write an invalidation condition before entry that is observable and not just “if the market feels weak.”
FAQ
Can Claude give me a buy or sell recommendation?
It can help organize research, assumptions, and calculations, but it is not a substitute for a licensed adviser or your own judgment. Verify current data independently.
Can AI calculate position size?
It can show the formula using your inputs, but you should check it against instrument-specific details such as lot size, contract multiplier, and currency.
What is the most important input for a trade prompt?
Your pre-set maximum loss and invalidation condition. Without them, an analysis can describe upside without defining what risk is acceptable.