> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trinigence.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What to Change First

> The correct priority order for improving a trading strategy.

## The correct order

1. Risk
2. Exits
3. Frequency & exposure
4. Entries
5. Parameters

Changing parameters before risk is a mistake.

***

## Why this order works

**1. Risk**
Start with position sizing, stop loss, and exposure. If drawdowns are unacceptable, no entry logic will save the strategy.

**2. Exits**
Exits define how trades resolve. If exits are vague or inconsistent, optimization only amplifies noise.

**3. Frequency & exposure**
Too many trades or too much time in the market can distort results. Control the behavior before fine-tuning entries.

**4. Entries**
Only once behavior is sane should you refine entry logic.

**5. Parameters**
Parameter tweaks are last. They are least meaningful without a stable base.

***

## Quick example

If a strategy loses money but has good entries, the fix is usually **risk and exits**, not a new indicator.

***

## What to read next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Improving a strategy" icon="sliders" href="/iteration-optimization/improving-a-strategy" />

  <Card title="Parameter ranges" icon="sliders" href="/iteration-optimization/parameter-ranges" />

  <Card title="Overfitting & guardrails" icon="shield" href="/iteration-optimization/overfitting-and-guardrails" />

  <Card title="Common pitfalls" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/backtesting/common-pitfalls" />
</CardGroup>