> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.flltlt.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# How to Build a Trading Plan (One-Page Template)
- URL: https://www.flltlt.com/blog/how-to-build-a-trading-plan/
- Published: 2026-10-27T15:27:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T17:31:44.000Z
- Description: The four parts of a trading plan, a one-page example template and why vague rules get broken.
- Author: Fulltilt
- Tags: Trading Strategies, Trading Psychology

**The short answer:** A trading plan is a written set of rules for what you trade, when you trade, which setups you take, how much you risk and how you review your results. It turns trading from a string of in-the-moment decisions into a repeatable process. A good plan fits on one page, and every rule in it is specific enough that you can tell whether you followed it.

## Key takeaways

- A plan covers market, hours, setups, risk and review.
- Every rule should be specific enough to check yes or no.
- One page is enough. Long plans don't get read.
- Change the plan between sessions, not during them.
- Grade yourself on following the plan, not on daily P&L.

## What goes in a trading plan?

![A trading plan in four parts: market and hours, setups, risk rules, and review.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a0/84/a0847890-aa24-4d5e-b6dd-8a7b42022bb3/content/images/2026/10/trading-plan-parts.png)

### 1\. Market and hours

What you trade, like MNQ or ES, and when. For example: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Eastern, no trading on major data days until 15 minutes after the release. See [futures market hours](https://www.flltlt.com/blog/futures-market-hours/).

### 2\. Setups

One to three setups, each with an exact entry trigger, stop placement and target. For example: "Pullback to VWAP in an uptrend; enter on a close back above; stop below the pullback low; target the prior high." See [day trading strategies](https://www.flltlt.com/blog/day-trading-strategies/) and [how to identify a trend](https://www.flltlt.com/blog/how-to-identify-a-trend/).

### 3\. Risk rules

- Risk per trade, in dollars. See [how much to risk per trade](https://www.flltlt.com/blog/how-much-to-risk-per-trade/).
- Daily stop: for example, two losses or a set dollar amount.
- Maximum trades per session.
- When to cut size: after a losing week, after a reset, on a new account.

### 4\. Review

Log every trade and review weekly: did you follow the plan, what's your [expectancy](https://www.flltlt.com/blog/trading-expectancy/), and what's the one change for next week?

## A simple one-page template

| Section        | Example                                      |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Market         | MNQ only                                     |
| Hours          | 9:30–11:30 a.m. ET                           |
| Setup A        | Opening range breakout, one attempt per side |
| Setup B        | VWAP pullback in a trend                     |
| Risk per trade | $150                                         |
| Daily stop     | 2 losses or $300                             |
| Max trades     | 4                                            |
| Review         | Every Friday, one change max                 |

This is an example layout, not a recommendation. Your numbers depend on your account and drawdown.

## Why do traders ignore their plans?

**Usually because the plan is vague or the day went wrong.** "Trade good setups" can't be checked. "Enter on a 5-minute close above the opening range high" can. And most plan breaks happen after losses, which is why the daily stop is the most important line on the page. More in [revenge trading](https://www.flltlt.com/blog/revenge-trading/).

> **From the desk** Indy trades MNQ and publishes a rules-based record in points on [Day Trader Income](https://www.daytraderincome.com/). "Rules-based" just means there's a written plan and every trade gets checked against it.

## The bottom line

Write the market, hours, setups, risk rules and review process on one page. Make every rule checkable. Follow it for a few weeks, review it on weekends, and change one thing at a time.

## FAQ

### What is a trading plan?

A trading plan is a written set of rules covering what you trade, when, which setups you take, how much you risk and how you review results.

### What should be included in a trading plan?

Your market and trading hours, one to three setups with entry, stop and target rules, risk rules like risk per trade and a daily stop, and a review process.

### How long should a trading plan be?

One page is usually enough. Every rule should be specific enough to check whether you followed it.

### When should I change my trading plan?

Between sessions during a scheduled review, one change at a time, never in the middle of a trading day.