What to Prepare Before a Trading Workflow Consulting Call

Short Answer

Before a trading workflow consulting call, prepare one real example of the problem. That may be a messy chart, an export file, broker history rows, a spreadsheet, a journal template, a dashboard mockup, or an AI prompt that keeps producing weak output.

The goal is not to bring perfect files. The goal is to show where context is getting lost so the next step can be scoped cleanly.

What to Bring

Bring enough context to explain the workflow without exposing sensitive account access. Sanitized samples are usually better than screenshots alone because the field names and rows make the handoff concrete.

Write the Problem in Plain English

A useful consulting request sounds practical: my chart notes do not line up with my journal, my IBKR export does not match the dashboard, my TradingView alert payload is missing context, or my AI prompt cannot tell what fields mean.

That plain-language version matters because it prevents the project from turning into a broad automation wish list. The first deliverable should usually be a field map, cleanup plan, implementation brief, or QA checklist.

• What do you do today?
• Where does the workflow break?
• What file, tool, or dashboard should receive the cleaned output?
• What should stay manual or under your control?
• What would make the next week of work easier?

Where Consulting Fits

Consulting is useful when the issue sits between tools: chart platform to journal, broker export to dashboard, webhook to log, spreadsheet to parser, or AI coding prompt to testable implementation.

Use workflow consulting when you want help turning the messy version into a short plan, field list, implementation brief, and checks before use.

Boundary

Do not prepare a request for trade calls, broker recommendations, account management, tax advice, legal advice, or regulatory advice. The consulting scope is workflow cleanup and implementation planning.

If live orders or broker APIs are involved, the first useful step is usually logging, reconciliation, permissions, and human review gates before anything touches execution.

What should I prepare before a trading workflow consulting call?

Prepare one real workflow example, sanitized export files if available, the destination tool, the current pain point, and the outcome you want from the cleanup.

Can I use fake or sanitized data?

Yes. Sanitized samples are preferred when they preserve field names and workflow shape while removing private account details, credentials, and personal identifiers.

What should I not send?

Do not send passwords, API keys, tokens, private credentials, or live account access. Consulting should work from sanitized examples and clear workflow descriptions.