VIBESTRADING / FIELD KIT

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A pre-trade checklist you can keep.

Use the VIBES checklist before an options or prediction-market idea moves from a feeling to a plan. The one-page PDF works on paper or alongside a trade journal. Start with a hypothetical setup if you are learning.

Download the free checklist PDF

Start with Savings.

Could you lose the entire amount, including existing exposure, without touching bills, emergency savings or business runway? If you cannot answer that question, keep the idea hypothetical while you review the rest.

Answer all five questions.

  1. Variables

    Do I understand the instrument, contract terms, timing and total downside? Record the strike, expiration, premium and quantity when reviewing an option.

  2. Information

    Can I cite the thesis and catalyst with dated sources? Write the countercase and what evidence could disprove the idea.

  3. Broker

    Do I understand fills, spreads, costs, exit and settlement mechanics? Check the actual broker or market terms.

  4. Energy

    Have I separated market sentiment from my own impulse? Explain why this idea is worth reviewing without relying on urgency.

  5. Savings

    Would a full loss leave essentials intact? Include other money already at risk and your estimated fees.

Use “not sure” to flag evidence you still need. A completed checklist is a prompt to document the trade plan, not a buy signal.

Keep the answers with your plan.

Record your entry conditions, invalidation, exit plan and dollar limit. Recheck the evidence if the price or setup changes. Afterward, review which assumptions held and which did not.

The full VIBES framework explains each question. The options risk calculator turns premiums into dollars. For a browser-based check, use the interactive VIBES checklist.