The 3-5-7 Rule: A Trader's Discipline Framework

90% of traders focus on picking the right stock. Only 10% focus on protecting their base capital. Guess which group survives in the long run?

Here's a simple yet powerful framework used by disciplined traders:

3% risk per trade Never risk more than 3% of your total capital on a single trade.

5% portfolio risk Keep total drawdown under 5%, so a string of bad trades doesn't burn your base.

7:1 profit-to-loss ratio Let winners run. Always aim for gains at least seven times larger than your losses.

Following the 3-5-7 discipline helps limit losses, stay consistent, and increase odds of long-term profitability. The market doesn't reward impulse — it rewards discipline.

For a fuller breakdown — including the different ways traders define the three numbers — see What Is the 3-5-7 Rule in Trading?