Adding Order to Chaos: An Investment Journal

Introducing the investment journal. Its purpose isn't just to document what we've done but to challenge our thinking. When we jot down our thesis for buying a particular stock-the research, the analysis, the reasons behind our decision-it's like making a commitment to our future selves. We're saying, "Hey, this is why we're doing this, and we want to remember why, even if the stock takes an unexpected turn."

The real magic happens when the stock moves, especially in our favor. Instead of attributing it solely to our genius, we can go back to our journal and see if the actual outcome aligns with what we predicted. It keeps us honest-a reality check against hindsight bias, the tricky tendency to see events as predictable or obvious after they've occurred.

It's a reminder that successful investing isn't just about making the right moves; it's about understanding why we made them in the first place.

The journal contains:

- A research checklist

- A mental models list

- A bias check

- A pre-trade checklist

- An organized template to record quarterly thoughts

- An organized template to record thoughts before buying and selling

It's printed on high-quality art paper (100GSM), making it easy to write without worrying about blotting. While I don't know if the investment journal will make you a better investor, it will hopefully make you a more accountable one.