Marks Cycles

OrganizationPopular

questflowai

marks-cycles

Use when evaluating markets through Howard Marks-style second-level thinking, credit cycles, risk premiums, market psychology, and defensive versus aggressive posture.

Overview

Publisher	questflowai
Repository	`investorskills`
Skill name	`marks-cycles`
Stars	1.8K
Forks	138
Bundled files	1
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
1 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by questflowai on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Marks Cycles AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/questflowai/investorskills.git /tmp/investorskills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/investorskills/skills/marks-cycles .claude/skills/marks-cycles

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Marks Cycles in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Marks Cycles on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Marks Cycles is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Howard Marks Cycles

Use this skill to apply Howard Marks-style cycle and risk judgment: identify where markets are in the cycle, compare price to value and risk premium, and decide whether to be defensive or aggressive.

When To Use

Use this skill when the user asks for:

Market cycle diagnosis
Credit spread and risk premium review
Second-level thinking on a crowded view
Defensive or aggressive portfolio posture
Whether risk is being rewarded or ignored

Trigger phrases include Howard Marks, cycle, second-level thinking, risk premium, credit cycle, defensive, aggressive, and market psychology.

Do Not Use When

The user needs a precise technical entry only.
There is no market, valuation, credit, or sentiment context.
The user asks for a prediction without uncertainty ranges.
The setup requires leverage or forced timing.

Inputs Needed

Asset class or market
Valuation, yield, spread, or risk premium data
Credit conditions, liquidity, default risk, and refinancing risk if relevant
Sentiment, positioning, and consensus view
Portfolio exposure and drawdown tolerance if posture is requested

Process

Identify the cycle: early, mid, late, stressed, panic, recovery.
Separate first-level view from second-level view.
Compare price, value, and risk premium.
Assess market psychology: fear, greed, complacency, forced selling.
Decide posture: defensive, neutral, opportunistic, or aggressive.
Size by margin for error, not confidence alone.

Output Format

md
# Marks Cycle View: [Market]

## Verdict
Defensive / Neutral / Opportunistic / Aggressive / Stand Down

## Cycle Position

## First-Level vs Second-Level View

## Risk Premium

## Market Psychology

## Portfolio Posture

## What Would Change The View

## Missing Data

Guardrails

Do not forecast with false precision.
Do not treat high returns as low risk.
Do not become aggressive when risk is underpriced.
Do not become paralyzed during panic if compensation is attractive.
Always ask what is already in the price.

Questflow Use

In Questflow, this skill is best used as a portfolio posture and cycle-risk module across Funds, asset classes, and market regimes.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

invest.md9 KB

Frequently asked questions

What does the Marks Cycles AI skill do?

Use when evaluating markets through Howard Marks-style second-level thinking, credit cycles, risk premiums, market psychology, and defensive versus aggressive posture.

Why use Marks Cycles on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Marks Cycles is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Marks Cycles in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/questflowai/investorskills/tree/main/skills/marks-cycles. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Marks Cycles?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Marks Cycles?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Marks Cycles with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Marks Cycles AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by questflowai under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Howard Marks Cycles

When To Use

Do Not Use When

Inputs Needed

Process

Output Format

Guardrails

Questflow Use

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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