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Broker Fields

Ticker Quantity Limits

  • This limit is enforced on a best-effort basis using the position data available when the trade is planned. Signals arriving at nearly the same time for the same symbol can each be planned against the same position snapshot, so it is not a strict guarantee that you will never exceed the configured maximum.

Caps how much of a single ticker TradersPost will hold on this broker account.

Setup

  • Add one row per ticker (up to 25 rows). An Applies to column shows the stocks/options choice when both are supported, or a read-only asset-class label otherwise.
  • Enter the largest quantity you are willing to hold — whole shares/contracts, or a fractional crypto amount such as 0.05.
  • Choose Reject order or Reduce to max when an order would go past that maximum.
  • Use the row's x button to remove a limit.
  • Every row needs a ticker, maximum, and over-max action — blank fields and overlapping rows will not save.
  • Limits are stored separately for live and paper — set them on both if you trade both.

What to enter

Asset Enter Do not enter
Stocks / stock options Underlying, e.g. SPY Option contracts, e.g. SPY 241004C571
Index options Index, e.g. SPX Index option contracts
Futures Root, e.g. NQ Dated contracts, e.g. NQZ2026
Crypto Full pair, e.g. BTC-USD Bare base, e.g. BTC

Applies to

Always shown. For stock underlyings on accounts that trade both stocks and stock options it is a choice; otherwise (including stocks-only accounts) the same column shows a read-only asset-class label (e.g. Stocks, Futures, Index Options) so you can verify which market the limit covers.

Shares and option contracts are always counted on separate ledgers. Use Applies to when you want different maximums for each:

Applies to Effect
Stocks & options (default) One maximum used for both the share book and the options book
Stocks only Caps share orders only
Options only Caps option-contract orders on that underlying only

You can add two rows for the same ticker (e.g. SPY stocks only at 100 and SPY options only at 5). A Stocks & options row cannot overlap a stocks-only or options-only row for the same ticker.

The maximum applies to the underlying: everything you hold on SPY options counts toward an options (or shared) SPY limit whatever the expiration or strike, and every NQ contract month counts toward NQ. Crypto limits are per pair (BTC-USD is separate from BTC-USDT). Long and short both count rather than cancelling out.

Reject order vs Reduce to max

Action What happens
Reject order (default) Blocks any order that would take you past the maximum
Reduce to max Trims a quantity-based order so the resulting holding lands on the maximum

Also worth knowing:

  • Dollar-amount orders and multi-leg trade plans still reject on breach (nothing to trim, or trimming one leg would mismatch the others).
  • An order that reduces what you already hold is allowed even when you are over the maximum.
  • Resting broker orders are not counted — only current holdings, the order being placed, and other legs of the same trade plan.
  • Dollar-amount orders are measured by their quote estimate; the filled quantity can differ.

Example

With a SPY maximum of 100 and 80 already open, an order for 50 is rejected when the row says reject, and reduced to 20 when the row says reduce.

Reducing stops at zero

An order large enough to close what you hold and open the other side is measured on that new position. With 120 held long against a maximum of 100, a sell of 230 is rejected because it would leave you short 110 — unless the row says reduce, in which case the sell is trimmed so the short lands at 100.

Trade messages

Situation Message
Blocked by this limit Max Quantity Per Ticker
Trimmed under Reduce to max Max Quantity Per Ticker Reduced

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