These are 5 Investment Philosophy principles distilled from William Gann's writing and public remarks. Use them as a decision checkpoint: translate each rule into a yes/no test, write what evidence would change your mind, and set a review date before you act. When a rule feels vague, open the full principle page and capture the driver you can verify (cash flows, leverage, incentives, competitive edge). This is educational, not investment advice—double-check primary sources and fit every rule to your time horizon, risk budget, and constraints.
"The 45-degree angle, or 1x1 line, is the most important. It represents a balanced relationship where price moves one unit per time unit. Angles above show strength; below show weakness."
The 45-degree angle represents perfect price-time balance.
Read Full Analysis →"The Square of Nine arranges numbers in a spiral pattern, revealing price levels of support and resistance. Key angles on the square indicate where prices are likely to reverse."
Square of Nine reveals natural support and resistance levels.
Read Full Analysis →"A trend is defined by higher highs and higher lows in an uptrend, lower highs and lower lows in a downtrend. Never trade against the main trend."
Trend is defined by sequence of higher or lower extremes.
Read Full Analysis →"Markets typically retrace 50%, 33%, or 25% of a move before continuing. The 50% retracement is the most important level for support and resistance."
Markets retrace 50%, 33%, or 25% before continuing trends.
Read Full Analysis →"Create master charts for each market showing all major highs and lows across decades. These charts reveal the true structure and cycles governing that market."
Master charts track all major highs and lows across decades.
Read Full Analysis →Use this page as a workflow, not a collection of quotes. Pick 3–5 principles, translate each into a concrete check, and review your decisions on a fixed cadence. These are educational guardrails—always verify facts and match them to your own constraints.
Rehearse a scenario decision → ·Run a weekly toolkit → ·Browse all principles →
He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of technical analysis. He believed that market movements followed natural laws and geometric patterns that could be predicted through careful study of price, time, and pattern relationships.
William Gann has 5 key principles on investment philosophy. The most important one is "Gann Angles" — The 45-degree angle, or 1x1 line, is the most important.
William Gann applies investment philosophy through several key principles including "Gann Angles" and "Square of Nine". These principles guide practical investment decisions and have been tested across decades of market cycles.
William Gann's approach to investment philosophy is distinguished by a focus on long-term thinking and fundamental analysis. With 5 specific principles in this area, William Gann provides a comprehensive framework that investors at any level can study and apply to improve their decision-making.
Treat each principle as a hypothesis. Write the evidence you would need, collect it from primary sources when possible (filings, letters, transcripts), and note what would invalidate the conclusion. If you can’t define inputs and triggers, you’re not applying the rule—you’re quoting it.
Pick a cadence you can sustain (weekly or monthly) and review process signals first: whether you followed your checklist, respected your boundaries, and documented assumptions. Only then look at outcomes. The goal is fewer low-quality decisions, not perfect prediction.
