# Name the strategy before connect

Before you connect a broker, wallet, or spend connector, write down the strategy name, allowed instruments, size ceiling, and kill conditions — so the agent inherits a named plan instead of improvising. Pair with connect-only-what-you-need, one-connector-at-a-time, paper-before-live, dry-run-before-first-live-place, and never-skip-review-before-place. Agent Lane does not place trades, hold wallets, or invent broker UI.

Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/name-the-strategy-before-connect/

## Answer first

Do not enable a live spend or trading connector until a short written plan exists: a name you can cite, what is allowed, how large, and what stops the run. The agent should inherit that named plan — not invent size, instruments, or exits mid-session.

## Why connecting without a named plan is the failure mode

- **Blank plan = improvised size and instruments** — [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md).
- **Review has nothing honest to check** — [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md).
- **Novelty without a dry prove burns the first live place** — [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md), [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md).

## What it means

1. Strategy name — short label for chat, memory, session log.
2. Allowed instruments or payees — in-scope only; pair with [whitelist-merchants-only.md](./whitelist-merchants-only.md).
3. Size ceiling — [agent-spend-caps.md](./agent-spend-caps.md), [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md).
4. Kill conditions — time-box, loss limit, odd fill, error, offline.
5. Then connect — [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md), [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md); review on.

## Shield stack

1. Name the strategy before connect (this page) — written plan before any live grant.
2. [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md) — only rails this plan needs.
3. [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md).
4. [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md) + [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md).
5. [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md).
6. [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md) + [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md).

## How to name the strategy before connect

1. Write the strategy name (one job, one name).
2. List allowed instruments or payees — [whitelist-merchants-only.md](./whitelist-merchants-only.md), [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md).
3. Set the size ceiling — [agent-spend-caps.md](./agent-spend-caps.md), [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md).
4. Write kill conditions — [session-time-box.md](./session-time-box.md), [kill-switch-before-travel.md](./kill-switch-before-travel.md).
5. Then connect — one rail, review on — [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md), [review-before-place.md](./review-before-place.md).
6. Paper and dry-run before first live place — [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md), [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md); confirm [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md); close [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md).

## Practical checklist

- Strategy named (short label written).
- Instruments / payees listed — in-scope only.
- Size ceiling written before connect.
- Kill conditions written (time, loss, odd fill, error, offline).
- Connect after the plan exists — one connector; review on.
- Paper / dry-run on the named plan before first live place.
- Official paths only — no invented broker UI.

Related: [Write invalidation before entry](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md), [paper-before-live-same-rules.md](./paper-before-live-same-rules.md), [max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md](./max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md), [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md), [no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md](./no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md), [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md), [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md), [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md), [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md), [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md), [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md), [separate-funding-from-trading-wallet.md](./separate-funding-from-trading-wallet.md), [write-go-before-scale-up.md](./write-go-before-scale-up.md)

## FAQ

**What does name the strategy before connect mean?**
Write strategy name, allowed instruments/payees, size ceiling, and kill conditions before enabling a live connector — so the agent inherits a named plan. Pair with connect-only, one-connector, paper-before-live, dry-run, never-skip-review.

**Do I invent a broker strategy UI?**
No. Official venue flows and your notes only. Agent Lane does not invent UI.

**Does this replace paper-before-live or dry-run?**
No. Naming is the plan gate; paper and dry-run prove the pipe. You need the stack.

## Sources

- Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/name-the-strategy-before-connect/
- Related shelf: https://agentlane.net/resources/
- Site index: https://agentlane.net/llms.txt

Agent Lane publishes checklists. We do not place trades, hold wallets, invent broker UI, or name your strategy.