Stock buy checklist template before you act

Use this checklist before a buy or add decision to make sure the reason, support, risk, and review plan are written down.

• Before buying a new stock.
• Before adding to an existing position after new information.
• When price movement is making the decision feel urgent.

Copy this template

1. Reason and support

• The reason I am buying is...
• The strongest support is...
• The source I should reread later is...

2. Risk and sizing

• The risk I may be underweighting is...
• Initial size and maximum size rule...
• I should not add more unless...

3. Review plan

• This decision should be reviewed when...
• The first review note should check...

Filled example

Fictional sample only: initial buy decision for Rivergate Software. This is not investment advice.

Reason

Enterprise retention and cash flow are improving while the market still values the business like growth is fading.

Risk

The improvement may be temporary if sales efficiency weakens again.

Size rule

Start small; do not add before the next retention update.

First review

Review after earnings and compare retention, margin, and guidance with the written reason.

How to keep the template useful.

• Compare the first review note with this buy checklist.
• Do not add unless support changed, not just because price moved.
• Keep the checklist short enough to reread before future decisions.