# Write max loss before entry

Before any live place, write the max loss for that ticket (dollars or % of sleeve) in the review card / plan — so exit size and stop logic are pre-committed; if the place would risk more than that written max, reject. Distinct from daily loss cap (session budget) and from invalidation (why you exit) — this is the how much you can lose gate before entry. Pair with write-invalidation-before-entry, one-risk-unit-per-idea, size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope, cap-daily-loss-before-session, never-skip-review-before-place, confirm-buying-power-before-place. Agent Lane does not place trades, hold wallets, or invent broker UI.

Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/write-max-loss-before-entry/

## Answer first

Before a live place: write the max loss for this ticket — dollars or % of sleeve — on the review card or plan. Check that size and stop (or equivalent risk) fit under that number. Missing max, or risk above it → do not place.

## Write max loss before entry in plain terms

1. **Write the number** — dollars or % of sleeve for this ticket, before place.
2. **Pre-commit exit size / stop logic** so risk is knowable at review.
3. **Reject over-max** — if place would risk more than the written max, do not authorize.
4. **Not the daily cap** — [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md) is session budget; this is per ticket.
5. **Not invalidation** — [write-invalidation-before-entry.md](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md) is why you exit; this is how much you can lose.
6. **Distinct from one-risk-unit / size-from-sleeve** — [one-risk-unit-per-idea.md](./one-risk-unit-per-idea.md) is unit allocation; [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md) is sizing method; this page is the explicit max-loss gate on the ticket.

## Why skipping written max loss is the failure mode

- **“We’ll stop somewhere.”** No number → stop improvised after you are in — [write-invalidation-before-entry.md](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md).
- **Size from hope** — [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [one-risk-unit-per-idea.md](./one-risk-unit-per-idea.md).
- **Daily cap only** — [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md) ≠ per-ticket max.
- **Invalidation without dollars** — why you exit without how much that exit costs at this size.
- **Buying power ≠ max loss** — [confirm-buying-power-before-place.md](./confirm-buying-power-before-place.md).

## Shield stack

1. [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md) — human gate before any live place.
2. [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md) / [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md) — named plan and sleeve.
3. [one-risk-unit-per-idea.md](./one-risk-unit-per-idea.md) / [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md) — unit and sizing method.
4. [write-invalidation-before-entry.md](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md) — why you exit.
5. Write max loss before entry (this page) — how much this ticket can lose; reject if size would breach it.
6. [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md) — session budget still applies.
7. [confirm-buying-power-before-place.md](./confirm-buying-power-before-place.md) — cash/BP from broker UI.
8. [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md) — write every place that fired without a written max or above it.

## How to run write max loss before entry

1. Name the ticket — thesis, symbol, sleeve.
2. Write max loss — dollars or % of sleeve on the review card / plan.
3. Check size against max — [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [one-risk-unit-per-idea.md](./one-risk-unit-per-idea.md), [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md).
4. Pair with invalidation — [write-invalidation-before-entry.md](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md).
5. Confirm buying power and review — [confirm-buying-power-before-place.md](./confirm-buying-power-before-place.md), [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md), [two-person-rule-for-large-places.md](./two-person-rule-for-large-places.md).
6. Journal overrides; revoke if misfired — [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md), [revoke-before-debug.md](./revoke-before-debug.md).

## Practical checklist

- Max loss written for this ticket (dollars or % of sleeve).
- Size / stop checked against that max before authorize.
- Missing or over-max → no place at review.
- Invalidation written separately (why you exit).
- Risk unit / sleeve rules respected.
- Daily / session loss cap still in force.
- Buying power from broker UI before place.
- Overrides journaled if anyone placed without max or above it.
- Official paths only — no invented broker UI.

Related: [write-invalidation-before-entry.md](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md), [one-risk-unit-per-idea.md](./one-risk-unit-per-idea.md), [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md), [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [confirm-buying-power-before-place.md](./confirm-buying-power-before-place.md), [two-person-rule-for-large-places.md](./two-person-rule-for-large-places.md), [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md), [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md), [no-place-while-unconfirmed-fill.md](./no-place-while-unconfirmed-fill.md), [shared-box.md](./shared-box.md).

## FAQ

**What does write max loss before entry mean?**
Before any live place, write the max loss for that ticket (dollars or % of sleeve) in the review card / plan — so exit size and stop logic are pre-committed; if the place would risk more than that written max, reject. Pair with write-invalidation-before-entry, one-risk-unit-per-idea, size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope, cap-daily-loss-before-session, never-skip-review-before-place, confirm-buying-power-before-place.

**How is this different from cap daily loss / write invalidation?**
Cap daily loss is the day/session budget. Write invalidation is why you exit. This page is how much you can lose on the ticket before entry.

**Do I invent a max-loss UI?**
No. Official venue screens and your written rule. Agent Lane does not invent UI or place trades for you.

## Sources

- Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/write-max-loss-before-entry/
- 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 read your order tickets.