Learning with Paper Trading

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Why Paper Trading?

• ✅ First-time investors
• ✅ Learning options before risking real money
• ✅ Testing strategies
• ✅ Building confidence
• ✅ Understanding how trades work

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Step 1: Sign Up for Ape AI

1. Download Ape AI from App Store
2. Tap Sign Up
3. Enter email and password
4. Verify email

1. Go to [app.Ape AI.com](https://app.Ape AI.com)
2. Click Sign Up
3. Enter email and password
4. Verify email

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Step 2: Choose Sage Companion (Recommended for Learning)

• Focuses on fundamentals
• Less aggressive suggestions
• Better for understanding basics
• Teaches you to research properly

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Step 3: Get Your FREE Ape Paper Trading Account

1. Go to Portfolio tab (bottom right)
2. Scroll to Brokerages section
3. You’ll see “Ape Paper Trading” at the TOP of the list
4. Tap “Claim Account”

1. Click Portfolio in left sidebar
2. Scroll to Brokerages section
3. “Ape Paper Trading” is listed FIRST
4. Click “Claim Account” or “Connect”

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Step 4: Create Your Paper Trading Account

1. Claim your account - Click/Tap to start
2. Accept terms - Review and accept
3. Account created! - You now have virtual money

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Step 5: Your First Paper Trade (Stock)

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Find a Stock to Buy

1. Go to Chat
2. Ask AI: “What are good beginner-friendly stocks to learn with?”
3. AI will suggest stable, well-known companies (e.g., AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL)

• AAPL (Apple)
• DIS (Disney)
• MSFT (Microsoft)
• Any stock you’re familiar with

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Research the Stock

1. Search for the stock (e.g., “AAPL”)
2. View the ticker page
3. Check all 4 Snapshot Grades
4. Read Company Story sections
5. Get comfortable with the company

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Place Your First Trade

Note: Trade execution happens in your brokerage’s paper trading platform, not directly in Ape AI (yet). Ape AI helps you research and find setups.

1. Open your broker’s paper trading platform
2. Search for the stock (AAPL)
3. Click “Buy” or “Trade”
4. Enter details:
   • Quantity: Start small (1-5 shares)
   • Order Type: Market order (simplest)
   • Account: Select paper trading account
5. Review the order
6. Submit

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Track It in Ape AI

1. Go to Portfolio tab/page
2. Your paper trading position should sync
3. Monitor daily P/L (profit/loss)
4. Watch how the stock moves

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Step 6: Learn Options Trading (Risk-Free)

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Understand Options Basics (Quick Primer)

• You’re betting the stock goes UP
• You profit if it rises above strike price
• Limited risk (you can only lose what you paid)

• You’re betting the stock goes DOWN
• You profit if it falls below strike price
• Limited risk (you can only lose what you paid)

• Strike Price: The price level of your bet
• Expiration: When the option expires (weekly, monthly)
• Premium: What you pay for the option

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Get AI Options Recommendations

1. Go to Chat
2. Ask: “What’s a simple options trade for a beginner to learn with? I have a paper trading account.”

• Buy a call on AAPL (bullish bet)
• Strike price slightly above current price
• Expiration 1-2 weeks out
• Reasoning: Simple, liquid, easy to understand

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Place Your First Options Trade

1. Search for the stock (AAPL)
2. Click “Trade Options” or “Options Chain”
3. Choose Calls (betting on upside)
4. Select:
   • Expiration: 1-2 weeks out (not too far)
   • Strike: Just above current price (e.g., if AAPL is $180, choose$185)
5. Buy 1 contract (start with 1!)
6. Review and Submit

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Ask AI to Explain What Happens

• “I bought a $185 call on AAPL expiring next Friday. Explain how this makes money.”
• “What happens if AAPL goes to $190?”
• “What happens if it drops to $170?”
• “When should I sell this option?”

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Step 7: Monitor and Learn

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Watch Your Positions

1. Go to Portfolio
2. Check the Options tab
3. See your position P/L update in real-time

• Stock goes up → Call value increases
• Stock goes down → Call value decreases
• Time passes → Option loses value (theta decay)

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Ask Maverick Questions

• “How is my AAPL call doing?”
• “Should I take profits or hold?”
• “What did I learn from this trade?”
• “What should I do differently next time?”

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Step 8: Practice Different Strategies

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1. Buy a Put (Bearish Bet)

• Pick a stock you think will drop
• Buy a put option
• Watch what happens

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2. Try Different Strikes

• In-the-money (safer, more expensive)
• At-the-money (balanced)
• Out-of-the-money (riskier, cheaper)

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3. Try Different Expirations

• Weekly (fast-moving, risky)
• Monthly (more time, higher cost)

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4. Learn to Take Profits

• Don’t always hold to expiration
• Sell when up 50%+ to lock gains
• Learn when to cut losses

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Step 9: Journal Your Trades

• Date and time
• What you bought (stock/option details)
• Why you bought it
• What happened
• What you learned

Trade #1: AAPL $185 Call (exp 11/15)
Why: Thought AAPL would go up on earnings
Result: +$120 profit (sold after 2 days)
Learned: Options move faster than stocks!
         Sell when you hit your target
         Don't get greedy

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💡 Learning Tips

1. Start small - 1 contract, 1-5 shares
2. Ask AI everything - No stupid questions
3. Don’t rush - Paper trade for weeks/months before going real
4. Try losing trades - Learn from mistakes (it’s free!)
5. Test strategies - Day trading, swing trading, long-term
6. Track everything - Journal builds skill

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When Are You Ready for Real Money?

• ✅ You understand how stocks and options work
• ✅ You’ve made (and lost) virtual trades
• ✅ You can explain why you entered/exited trades
• ✅ You have a strategy (not just guessing)
• ✅ You can control emotions (not FOMO trading)
• ✅ You’ve been profitable consistently for 2-3 months

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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

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What’s Next?

• Understanding Snapshot Grades
• My First Stock Research
• Learning Options Trading Guide

• Connect Real Brokerage
• Portfolio Health Check

• Morning Market Check
• Premarket Day Trading Routine

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Questions?

• [Paper Trading FAQ](<../Pre-Investor/Getting Started/paper-trading-practice.md>)
• Options Basics
• Contact Support