What do you believe about the market that hurts you?

"The market is rigged", "someone is hunting my stops", "it owes me a win" — beliefs that feel protective and produce destructive trading. Examining them is uncomfortable and productive.

What do you believe about the market that hurts you? — moving average crossover diagram
A fast moving average crossing a slower one

Share yours:

  • the belief and where it came from
  • how it shows up in your trades
  • what you replaced it with
What do you believe about the market that hurts you? — risk-reward diagram
A risk-reward ratio of 1 to 2

The stop-loss guide quietly dismantles several of these beliefs.

Background: Where to place a stop-loss: structure, volatility and time stops

A stop-loss belongs where your trade idea is proven wrong, not at a round number of pips. Here are the main methods and the mistakes that trigger stops early.

How far away should a stop-loss be?

Far enough that normal price movement doesn't reach it, at the point where the reason for the trade would be proven wrong. The position size should then be set so that distance costs a fixed share of the account.

Why was my stop-loss hit when the chart didn't reach it?

Charts usually show the bid price, but sell positions are closed at the ask. When the spread widens, the ask can reach a sell stop while the bid line on the chart stays below it.

Read the full guide

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