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Cortex Quick Start

Cortex is Trade Echo's AI assistant inside the web dashboard. It can pull live context from OptionFlow, DealerEdge, dark pool, AlgoEdge, news, your portfolio stats, and more - then answer in plain language. Use presets to bias which data sources matter, and optional custom instructions when you want a consistent style (for example, strict fact vs inference labeling).

What Cortex Does​

  • Chat: Ask questions in natural language. Cortex calls platform tools under the hood and returns structured, data-backed answers.
  • Presets: Eighteen built-in modes (see below) limit or prioritize tools so answers stay focused - for example GEX-heavy vs flow-heavy.
  • Custom agents: Build your own agent in the Agent Builder - pick a base, teach it, set rails, and publish. See Agent Builder.

Cortex is a research and education assistant. It is not personalized investment advice. Always confirm with your own process, risk rules, and the live tools before trading.

Where to Open Cortex​

  1. Log in to the Trade Echo web app.
  2. Open Cortex from the main navigation (same area as OptionFlow, DealerEdge, and other tools).
  3. Choose a preset before or as you chat - the preset controls which tools Cortex prefers.

Cortex has more than chat: Agent Builder, Marketplace, My Agents, and Approvals live under the same Cortex section. See Agent Builder, Marketplace, and My Agents and Approvals.

Built-In Presets​

These names match the options in the app.

PresetFocusGood for
GEX ScoutGamma exposure, flip levels, dealer-style positioning (DealerEdge)Pin risk, magnets, pre-event structure
Flow SniperUnusual options flow, sweeps, premium (OptionFlow)Screening flow, ticker deep dives
Dark Pool RadarLarge off-exchange prints and contextBlocks, size vs session, tape context
Catalyst ScoutEvents, earnings, FOMC-style setupPre-event picture across signals + news
Risk ScoutSEC filings, financials, fundamental risk10-K / 10-Q / 8-K questions, fundamentals
My PortfolioYour trade journal stats (P&L, win rate, habits)Review performance, sizing context with your data
Market RecapSession or week digest across signalsEnd-of-day or weekly summary
Sector FlowBroad-market unusual premium and sector-level flow"Where is premium concentrated today"
ATS Tape TrendsWeekly FINRA ATS volume (delayed 1-2 weeks) vs live dark pool printsVenue trends, delayed vs live comparison
Liquidity PulseSpot tape, algo prints, and options flow together"What is moving" on a single ticker
Index PulseIndex snapshots (SPX, NDX, VIX) plus ETF tape and Futures Echo MapIndex levels, VIX checks, futures context
Futures EchoCME Echo Map session structure with projected dealer wallsES / NQ session reads, overnight context
Chain ScoutOptions chain snapshot with flow and spotContract-level structure on a name
BT Cloud Scout1-minute BT Cloud direction and crossover eventsFast intraday trend reads
Session Structure (VWAP + EMA9/20)Session structure scenarios (TAKE / OPTIONAL / NO_TRADE) from VWAP and EMA9/EMA20Index 0DTE structure reads, prime session windows
Structure ScoutNear-dated options structure and spot (0-DTE style reads)Short-dated structure as confirmation
Member SupportBilling, login, promos, and copy trading help (no market-data tools)Account and product questions
Full ScanAll Cortex tools availableMaximum flexibility, multi-module questions

Default when unsure: Full Scan. Use a focused preset when you want Cortex to stay in one lane (for example Flow Sniper for flow-only days).

How to Get Better Answers​

1. Name the ticker and timeframe​

  • Strong: "Unusual call flow on NVDA in the last two hours today."
  • Weak: "What's happening with tech?"

2. Match preset to the question​

  • GEX and dealer positioning → GEX Scout
  • Sweeps and premium → Flow Sniper
  • Dark pool prints → Dark Pool Radar
  • Earnings or calendar → Catalyst Scout
  • Filings and fundamentals → Risk Scout
  • Your own stats → My Portfolio
  • "Everything on one symbol" → Full Scan

3. Cross-check the live tools​

Use Cortex to summarize and explore, then confirm levels, flow, and news on the actual OptionFlow, DealerEdge, and NewsEdge pages before placing trades.

4. Use custom instructions for discipline​

Short custom text (when available) works well for rules like: bullets only, label fact vs inference, always give invalidation, or cap how many tickers are discussed. See Ready-made custom prompts for copy-paste examples.

Example Questions​

GEX Scout

  • Where is the GEX flip on SPY?
  • Gamma profile for QQQ
  • Dealer positioning on TSLA

Flow Sniper

  • Unusual call flow on NVDA today
  • High premium sweeps over $500k
  • Flow into AAPL this week

Dark Pool Radar

  • Big dark pool prints on META today
  • Largest dark pool trades in the last session

Catalyst Scout

  • How is NVDA positioned before earnings?
  • Pre-catalyst read on CRM before Thursday

Risk Scout

  • What did NVDA report in their latest 10-K?
  • Revenue trend for AAPL over the last four quarters

My Portfolio

  • How did I do this month?
  • Which tickers do I trade most?

Market Recap / Full Scan

  • Give me today's market recap
  • Run a full picture on QQQ

Scanner and Alerts (If Enabled)​

Some accounts can subscribe to scanner or alert style automations tied to Cortex presets and watchlists. If you use them:

  • Keep tickers and thresholds realistic to avoid noise.
  • Alerts are starting points - still verify in the dashboard before acting.

Details may vary by release; use in-app help or Discord if a control is not visible on your account.

Common Questions​

Does Cortex place trades for me?

Chat does not. Custom agents trade a simulated paper book by default. Live execution in the Builder is limited to Lifetime members on the creator's own account - behind broker binding, drawdown limits, and approvals. Marketplace followers can also live auto-execute on Lifetime when the listing supports it. See Agent Builder and Marketplace.

Why did Cortex refuse or give a short answer?

It may lack tool data for that ticker or time, or your message may hit safety or subscription limits. Narrow the question or try Full Scan.

What is the custom instructions field for?

It adds a behavior layer on top of a preset (tone, format, risk reminders) - up to 2,000 characters in the Agent Builder. It cannot replace the preset's tool focus by itself.

Next Steps​