diff --git a/api/runtime_manager.py b/api/runtime_manager.py
index eaa0608..81e2ca6 100644
--- a/api/runtime_manager.py
+++ b/api/runtime_manager.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class RuntimeConfigManager:
         initial_config = {
             "TODAY_DATE": date,
             "SIGNATURE": model_sig,
-            "IF_TRADE": False,
+            "IF_TRADE": True,  # FIX: Trades are expected by default
             "JOB_ID": job_id,
             "TRADING_DAY_ID": trading_day_id
         }
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_runtime_manager.py b/tests/unit/test_runtime_manager.py
index c03173f..c8ec3d8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_runtime_manager.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_runtime_manager.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class TestRuntimeConfigCreation:
 
             assert config["TODAY_DATE"] == "2025-01-16"
             assert config["SIGNATURE"] == "gpt-5"
-            assert config["IF_TRADE"] is False
+            assert config["IF_TRADE"] is True
             assert config["JOB_ID"] == "test-job-123"
 
     def test_create_runtime_config_unique_paths(self):
@@ -108,6 +108,32 @@ class TestRuntimeConfigCreation:
             # Config file should exist
             assert os.path.exists(config_path)
 
+    def test_create_runtime_config_if_trade_defaults_true(self):
+        """Test that IF_TRADE initializes to True (trades expected by default)"""
+        from api.runtime_manager import RuntimeConfigManager
+
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            manager = RuntimeConfigManager(data_dir=temp_dir)
+
+            config_path = manager.create_runtime_config(
+                job_id="test-job-123",
+                model_sig="test-model",
+                date="2025-01-16",
+                trading_day_id=1
+            )
+
+            try:
+                # Read the config file
+                with open(config_path, 'r') as f:
+                    config = json.load(f)
+
+                # Verify IF_TRADE is True by default
+                assert config["IF_TRADE"] is True, "IF_TRADE should initialize to True"
+            finally:
+                # Cleanup
+                if os.path.exists(config_path):
+                    os.remove(config_path)
+
 
 @pytest.mark.unit
 class TestRuntimeConfigCleanup: