Your stock trading rules are your money. When you follow your rules you make money. However if you break your own stock trading rules the most likely outcome is that you will lose money.
Once you have a reliable set of stock trading rules it is important to keep them in mind. Here is one discipline that can reap rewards.
Rule 1: I must follow my rules
Naturally if you develop a set of rules they are to be followed. It is human nature to want to vary or break rules and it takes discipline to continue to act in accordance with the established rules.
Rule 2: I will never risk more than 3% of my total portfolio on any one stock trade
There are many old traders. There are many bold traders. But there are never any old bold traders. Protecting your capital base is fundamental to successful stock market trading over time.
Rule 3: I will cut my losses at 5% to 15% when I am wrong without question
Some traders have an even lower tolerance for loss. The key point here is to have set points (stop loss) within the limits of your tolerance for loss. Stay informed about the performance of you stock and stick to your stop loss point.
Rule 4: Never limit price targets
This is a style that will allow me to get the most out of rising stocks. Simply let the profits run. Realistically, I can never pick tops. Never feel a stock has risen too high too quickly. Be willing to give back a good percentage of profits in the hope of much bigger profits.
The big money is made from trading the really BIG moves that I can occasionally catch.
Rule 5: Master one style
Keep learning and getting better at this one method of trading. Never jump from one trading style to another. Master one style rather than become average at implementing several styles.