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.
📋 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
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
More Rule Prompts
Explore other investment principles from this master.
Big Picture Thinking
Don't get lost in the details. Always keep the big picture in mind and prioritize accordingly.
→Mistakes as Learning
Every time you make a mistake, you should be grateful because you have an opportunity to learn from it and improve.
→All-Weather Strategy
Structure your portfolio to perform well across all economic environments - growth, recession, inflation, and deflation.
→The Economic Machine
The economy works like a simple machine. Three main forces drive it: productivity growth, short-term debt cycle, and long-term debt cycle.
→