Lesson 2
Stop Losses & Risk Control
Stops are not optional. Every position needs a defined exit. Honor your stops. The times they save you from catastrophe are worth the times they stop you out early.
Stop losses protect you from catastrophic losses. Here's how to set them properly.
Types of Stops:
Technical Stops:
- Below support level
- Below key moving average
- Below recent low
- ATR-based (e.g., 2x ATR)
Thesis Invalidation:
- Stop where your thesis would be wrong
- If you're bullish because of breakout, stop below breakout level
- If you're bullish on macro, stop if macro signal reverses
Time Stops:
- If thesis hasn't played out in X days, exit
- Prevents capital being tied up in dead trades
Portfolio Stops:
- If portfolio down X% from peak, reduce exposure
- Prevents death by a thousand cuts
Stop Placement Rules:
- Set stop BEFORE entering trade
- Place stop where thesis is invalidated, not arbitrary %
- Don't move stop against you (honor it)
- Can move stop in your favor (trailing)
- Accept you'll get stopped out sometimes (cost of protection)
The Drawdown Budget:
Decide in advance:
- Max loss per trade: 1-2% of portfolio
- Max loss per week: 5%
- Max loss per month: 10%
- Max drawdown before derisking: 15-20%
When budgets hit, reduce position sizes automatically.
Check your understanding
Lesson Quiz
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Quiz Check
You're bullish on the SPX. You have a 5% stop loss based on technical support. You're risking 2% of your account per trade. What position size?