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Research Checklist2026-07-024 min read

How I Review a Position Before Buying

A checklist does not make an investment good. It only reduces the chance that I skip the obvious questions when the story feels exciting.

The source of the opportunity

I want to understand why the market may be mispricing the asset. Is the market ignoring a slow improvement, overreacting to a temporary issue, or underestimating a structural trend?

If I cannot explain the edge in plain language, the idea is probably not ready.

The risk checklist

I review liquidity, balance sheet pressure, valuation, concentration risk, narrative crowding, and the probability of being forced to sell at the wrong time.

For crypto assets, I add token unlocks, exchange depth, holder concentration, governance risk, and whether usage is real or mostly incentive-driven.

The decision note

Before buying, I write the base case, bear case, bull case, expected review date, and failure condition. The note should be specific enough that a future version of me can audit the decision honestly.

This is personal process documentation, not a recommendation for anyone else.

Risk note: This article is personal research and education only. It is not financial advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security, token, or financial product.