Orthodontics has witnessed meaningful progress in recent decades with renewed interest in self-ligation; the advent, wider adoption and continued growth of aligner therapy; and the dawn of a range of surgical and non-surgical adjuncts. While progress challenges us to adapt, to update our knowledge and understanding and to embrace new technologies, the primacy of fundamental knowledge, careful planning and diligent oversight and the centrality of the orthodontist rather than the tools we use remains unchallenged. As such, the requirement for guiding principles may be more pertinent than ever and the challenge of condensing these into digestible tips is considerable. We focus on fundamental keys embracing orthodontic diagnosis including the relationship between planning and prospective stability, principles of treatment planning and objective setting and anchorage management. These aspects represent a cornerstone of planning irrespective of the force delivery system.