How to Set Up ATM Strategies in NinjaTrader

What an ATM Strategy Is

ATM = Advanced Trade Management. It automatically places:

• your stop-loss
• your take-profit
• breakeven triggers
• auto trailing stops (optional)

It ties directly into proper execution from Execution vs Idea.

Step 1: Open the ATM Strategy Menu

1. Open a chart in NinjaTrader.
2. Enable Chart Trader (press Ctrl + T).
3. Look at the ATM dropdown (top-right of Chart Trader).
4. Select Custom...

Step 2: Set Your Auto Bracket

In the Custom ATM window, set:

• Stop-Loss (ticks)
• Profit Target (ticks)

Step 3: Add a Breakeven Trigger

1. Under More, open Breakeven settings.
2. Example configuration:
   • At 8 ticks in profit → move stop to -2 ticks

Step 4: Add Auto-Trail (optional)

Auto-trail lets your stop follow price automatically.

1. Open Auto Trail.
2. Set:
   • Trigger
   • Step size
   • Frequency

Step 5: Save the ATM Strategy

1. At the top, name your strategy something like 12tickSL_20tickPT_BE8.
2. Click Save.

Step 6: Use It When Trading

1. Open Chart Trader.
2. Select your strategy from the dropdown.
3. Place a market/limit/stop order.
4. Your stop-loss + take-profit auto-place instantly.

How ATM Helps Prop Firm Evaluations

Prop firms punish sloppiness, revenge trading, and huge stop-losses. ATMs enforce discipline automatically.

See also:

• Common Evaluation Mistakes
• DOM Trading Basics
• NinjaTrader Order Entry