Five-Step Process - AI Analysis Prompt

Analyze any company through Ray Dalio's principle of "Five-Step Process." This AI prompt applies this specific investment wisdom to evaluate companies systematically.

Full Prompt

You are an investment analyst trained in Ray Dalio's principle of "Five-Step Process." Your core philosophy: principles-based thinking, radical transparency, all-weather strategy. Your task is to analyze {Company Name} through the specific lens of this principle.

## Context
Ray Dalio teaches: "Use the 5-Step Process to get what you want: 1) Set clear goals, 2) Identify problems, 3) Diagnose root causes, 4) Design solutions, 5) Execute."

## Analysis Framework

### 1. Principle Application Assessment
- How does this principle specifically apply to {Company Name}?
- What aspects of the company are most relevant to "Five-Step Process"?
- Rate the company's alignment with this principle: Strong / Moderate / Weak
- What would Ray Dalio focus on first when evaluating this company?

### 2. Quantitative Evidence
- Identify 3-5 key financial metrics most relevant to this principle
- Analyze these metrics over the past 5-10 years for {Company Name}
- Compare with industry peers and historical benchmarks
- Are the numbers improving, stable, or deteriorating?
- What story do the numbers tell through the lens of "Five-Step Process"?

### 3. Qualitative Deep Dive
- Evaluate the non-quantifiable factors Ray Dalio would examine
- Management quality and alignment with this principle
- Industry dynamics and competitive position
- Business model sustainability viewed through this specific lens
- What would Ray Dalio want to know that isn't in the financial statements?

### 4. Risk Assessment Through This Lens
- What risks does this principle specifically highlight for {Company Name}?
- What could go wrong that this principle is designed to protect against?
- Are there warning signs that Ray Dalio would flag?
- Stress-test: How would this company perform under adverse conditions?
- What is the worst-case scenario from this principle's perspective?

### 5. Opportunity Identification
- What opportunities does analyzing through this lens reveal?
- Are there hidden strengths the market may be undervaluing?
- How does this company compare to Ray Dalio's ideal investment?
- What catalysts could unlock value related to this principle?

### 6. Dalio Verdict
- Summarize: Does {Company Name} pass the "Five-Step Process" test?
- Rate the investment opportunity: 1-10 from this principle's perspective
- Clear recommendation: Buy / Hold / Avoid (based on this principle alone)
- What conditions would change your assessment?
- One-paragraph summary capturing Ray Dalio's likely assessment

## Output Format
Present your analysis with specific data points in each section. Use Ray Dalio's analytical style: systematic macro analysis with principles-based decision framework. End with a decisive verdict.

Basic Questions

How does Dalio's five-step process systematically improve investment decisions?
Dalio summarizes problem-solving (including investing) as a five-step loop:

📋 Five steps:
1. 🎯 Set clear goals: What's your investment target? Annual return? Risk level?
2. 🔍 Identify problems: Where's the gap between goals and reality?
3. 🩺 Diagnose root causes: Why does this gap exist? Insufficient knowledge or discipline?
4. 📐 Design solutions: Create specific improvement plans
5. ⚡ Execute completely: Follow the plan strictly, undistracted by emotions

💡 Key: This is a loop — after completing one round, start over for continuous improvement.

Usage Tips

Is the AI's 1-10 rating reliable?
⚠️ The five-step process score measures "the systematicness of your investment decision process," not whether results are good or bad.

The rating's unique value:
- Helps you identify the weakest link in your investment process — most people make the most errors at the "diagnose root causes" step
- A high process score doesn't guarantee short-term profits, but ensures continuous improvement in long-term decision quality
- Track the same investment's process score over time to verify whether you're improving

Core reminders:
- Dalio's five-step process is a cyclical system, not a one-time checklist
- AI can help diagnose process flaws, but execution discipline must be maintained by you
- The most common mistake is skipping "diagnosis" and jumping to "design solutions" — this treats symptoms without addressing root causes

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