Trader Readiness Checklist
Complete every phase before risking real capital — think like a trader, not a gambler. 12 steps across 7 phases. Work through each phase in order; don't advance until the current one is fully complete.
■ Phase 1 · Foundation & Education
Download the Mezan App
Install the Mezan Investing app on your device. Explore the dashboard, watchlists, and strategy sections before doing anything else.
Complete All Training Modules
Work through every module in full. The goal is to train yourself to think like a trader — not a gambler. By the end, select your niche: Day Trader · Swing Trader · Investor (or Hybrid).
■ Phase 2 · Paper Trading — Round 1(37 Trades)
Open a Paper Trading Account
Choose a brokerage that offers a paper (simulated) trading account — TD Ameritrade thinkorswim, Webull, or Interactive Brokers are solid options. Set your starting balance to exactly $10,000.
Execute 37 Paper Trades
Apply whatever strategy you learned — momentum, breakout, swing. Take all 37 trades using real market conditions. Do not skip or shortcut this step. Quality > speed.
Journal Every Single Trade
For each of the 37 trades, record: Entry price · Exit price · Stop loss · Reason for entry · What happened · What you learned. No journal = no advancement to Phase 3.
■ Phase 3 · First Live Exposure(2 Real Trades)
Take 2 Real Trades — Minimum Size Only
Use only 2–5 shares per trade. Example: buy 2 shares of NVDA and target a $2–$4 gain per share. The goal is to feel the emotional difference between paper and live — not to make money.
Reflect on Emotional Response
How did it feel different from paper trading? Did fear or greed affect your decisions? What will you do differently?
■ Phase 4 · Paper Trading — Round 2(10 Trades)
Return to Paper — 10 Trades
Apply lessons from your live exposure. These 10 trades should be more refined than Round 1. Focus on discipline: no FOMO entries, no moving stop losses.
■ Phase 5 · Live Trading — Round 2(4 Trades)
Take 4 Real Trades
You can slightly increase size if your paper R:R was above 1.5 and win rate above 50%. Otherwise keep 2–5 shares. Journal all 4 trades immediately after closing.
■ Phase 6 · Paper Trading — Round 3(5 Trades)
Return to Paper — 5 Trades
Fine-tune entries. By now you should have a clear setup you trade repeatedly — not random ideas. Each trade must match your defined setup criteria.
■ Phase 7 · Live Trading — Round 3(6 Trades → Ongoing)
Take 6 Real Trades
You've now completed the full programme. These 6 trades mark your transition into consistent live trading. Continue journaling. Scale size gradually — only when your stats justify it.
Review & Set Next Milestone
After all 6 live trades, review your full journal from Phase 2 onwards. Identify your single biggest edge and your single biggest leak.
Progress saves automatically in your browser. The market rewards patience and punishes impatience — every professional trader you admire went through a version of this process.
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