RiskBrake

RiskBrake is a strict discipline tool for ATAS and ATAS X. The author built it after breaking his own risk rules on bad trading days. Limits are set ahead of time, in a calm state of mind, via a web dashboard. Once a limit is reached, RiskBrake blocks new entries on that account until the restriction period ends. There is no unlock button or override password — neither for the user nor the developer. Closing or reducing positions is always permitted, ensuring you never get trapped in a trade.

Protection from Impulsive Decisions

Disabling RiskBrake during emotional moments is impossible: canceling the service takes effect only the following morning. Stopping the background app while ATAS is running will also cause new orders to be rejected.

Configurable Risk Limits

Per-account settings include:

• Daily loss limit and daily profit target

• Maximum total trades and maximum losing trades per day

• Cool-off pause after losing trades (e.g., 5, 10, or 15 minutes)

• Weekly loss limit

• Giveback rule: lockout triggered after surrendering a set portion of peak daily profit

• Trading sessions: up to two active time windows per day

Additionally, an aggregate overall limit can be applied across all accounts simultaneously. Rules can be tightened instantly at any time, but loosening them is restricted to once a day or once a week, depending on trader preference.

What Happens When a Limit is Reached

• New orders that open or increase a position are rejected within ATAS, with the reason stated in the order notification

• Open positions on that account are closed; working pending orders are canceled prior to exit

• Closing and reducing positions is always allowed

• Lockouts lift automatically (e.g., at midnight or after a cool-off timer expires)

Trade Journal

The trade journal is included in the subscription at no extra cost.

Automated Logging:

• Every trade is logged automatically: entry, exit, volume, hold time, and PnL — zero manual data entry required

• Automatic chart screenshots are taken at both entry and exit, visually preserving market context

Tagging & Analytics:

• Monthly calendar highlighting daily PnL and lockout triggers

• Custom notes, execution grades (A+ to C), setup tags, and user-defined categories (e.g., "Location", "Confirmation")

• Monthly overview: win rate, average winner/loser, and expected value per trade. Filterable by setup, grade, custom categories, side (long/short), and account

• Tilt-check feature: compares performance of post-loss trades, late-session trades, and immediate post-lockout trades against baseline performance

• MFE/MAE metrics for winning trades, showing remaining price run-out to evaluate early exits

Additional Features

• Auto-detects active ATAS accounts

• Hotkeys: Instant Flatten, short cool-off pause, and lockout until end of day

• Copy-traded orders across multiple accounts are counted as a single consolidated trade

What RiskBrake Is Not

RiskBrake is not a trading strategy or signal provider. It offers no investment advice and cannot guarantee protection against market slippage. In fast-moving markets, price may cross a limit threshold before a market exit executes. The tool is designed to restrain traders during moments of impulse, not to resist intentional tampering or reverse-engineering.

Technical Architecture

• Windows only, single setup executable

• Package includes an ATAS chart strategy (an indicator in ATAS X), a lightweight Windows background app, and a secure backend server managing rules and lockouts

• To reject orders prior to broker submission, the installer injects a lightweight check into ATAS connector files on the user's PC. The check strictly inspects lockout status — it never submits, modifies, or opens orders. Exits are permanently unblocked. Uninstaller fully restores original files.

Pricing

• 14-day free trial, then $39.99 USD per month

• Trade journal included in subscription

• One trial period per computer