A Simple 5-Field Review Log for Long-Horizon Equity Decisions
After entering or exiting a position, many investors skip structured reflection and later repeat the same sizing or emotional errors. A short post-decision log can turn each trade into repeatable data rather than isolated stories.
Use these five fields immediately after you act:
Field | Purpose | Example entry
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Thesis | Core reason for the position and expected multi-year outcome | “Company should compound earnings at 12%+ as it gains share in enterprise software”
Invalidation | Specific conditions that would force a rethink | “Revenue growth falls below 8% for two consecutive quarters or margins compress 300 bps”
Size rationale | Why this allocation fits total portfolio risk | “2.5% position keeps single-name risk under 5% at a 40% drawdown scenario”
Emotion check | Note feelings at execution time | “Slight anxiety from recent volatility, but allocation stayed within plan”
Process fix | One concrete change for next time | “Set a calendar reminder to re-read thesis quarterly instead of price-checking daily”
Filling the log takes under ten minutes yet surfaces recurring patterns in sizing discipline or thesis drift. Over a year the accumulated entries become a personal equity decision database that improves future allocation choices.
You can find free review templates and long-horizon tools discussed on my YouTube channel.