What monitoring should do
A tracker shows you what you own and what it is worth. Monitoring answers a different question: what changed since you last looked, and does any of it break a rule you set in advance? Good monitoring is quiet most days and specific when something matters.
How Atradian monitors a portfolio
- Snapshots. Each import is reconciled against the previous one, so you see what was added, sold, or moved.
- Rules you write. The rule set includes limits such as a maximum weight for one holding, a cap on the top three positions, a cap on speculative holdings, a cash floor, a review level versus your cost price, and a drawdown breaker. Each rule shows a state: pass, watch, review, or unknown.
- Macro rules. Rules can react to readings such as the 10-year Treasury yield or high-yield credit spreads, against thresholds you can set.
- Theses and journal. Write down why you own each holding and keep the thesis on record.
- Calendar. A calendar tab collects scheduled events, including earnings dates.
- Daily brief. On Pro and Elite, a brief runs each trading day and summarises what changed and which rules changed state. The free plan receives a weekly brief.
What it does not do
Atradian doesn't connect to brokers, so you import your holdings yourself. It doesn't place orders, and it doesn't tell you to sell. A rule that breaches is a prompt to review, not an instruction.
A simple monitoring routine
- Write three to five rules you can explain in one sentence each.
- Write a one-line thesis for every holding you own.
- Import holdings on a fixed schedule, weekly or monthly.
- Read the brief and decide only on rule breaches and thesis changes.
- Once a month, check whether any rule should change, and why.
Common mistakes
- Too many rules, so every day looks like a breach.
- Rules with no stated reason, which get ignored the first time they fire.
- Reacting to price moves that do not touch a rule or a thesis.