This podcast is full of great information. Their approach to retirement is well thought out and they are passionate about it. I like their candor about the investment industry. If you are a type A, you will like this better if you try to chill a little and enjoy the banter, updates and digressions. This personalizes the show.

This is hard to rate. 2 stars for the delivery, 5+ stars for the content. Most of these podcasts are longer than an hour long. There is a lot of “banter” and personal jokes between Jim and Chris. They seem to pride themselves on being very off the cuff without a lot of prep. lBut give yourself the time to listen, because there are some very valuable nuggets of knowledge and wisdom that would be hard to find in another single source. I appreciate the transcripts to dig those nuggets out after listening. I often listen with the speed set to 1.2-1.5 and I don’t feel I miss anything.

Information is great. Knowledge base fabulous. But for jim some pounters. Dont repeat everything 5 times. Quit the stupid personal chitchat. Watch the ego. You’re smart we get it.

Yes, Jim can go on a bit and he likes to take credit for everything, but the podcast is invaluable. I get so much out of listening to it.

This podcast consistently delivers excellent retirement focused information and should be a must listen for all those approaching retirement. Both Jim and Chris provide keenly helpful insight and openly share an amazing amount of knowledge about Social Security and retirement planning. They do so without the conflict of trying to monetize their podcast. The podcast can be a bit long and it does, at times, get into much detail but in the end the delivery of useful information is well worth the wait. Sit back, listen, learn and enjoy!

“…if you will”. Just saying

Their knowledge is grounded in research and experience. The rabbit discussion is very bizarre. Rabbits are Leporidae and are primarily herbivores. Find another way to keep them away from the garden.

These guys Jim and Chris have taught me so much in the 7 to 8 years I’ve been listening. I reordered my retirement finances to align with their philosophy. I don’t agree with all their methods but at least 90% of them!!

Jim and Chris throughly explain topics that are of very high interest. This show grows on you and I can’t wait for the next episode.

These guys will grow on you. I used to fast forward through the first few minutes to get to the meat of the podcast. Now I enjoy the random conversations and chuckle several times during the entire show. Not to mention the knowledge I have absorbed.

This episode had a lot of detailed and clear information about HSAs that was really helpful.

Now these guys are talking my speed. One size doesn’t fit all. This is the most comprehensive podcast I have ever listened to. They are very informative, and helps in planning. I’m learning so much!! I just can’t thank them enough for their expertise.

I understand making a podcast more personal, but it’s not fun having to skip the first 12 minutes of a show to get to the meat of what the show is about.

Jim and Chris have a truly amazing approach to retirement planning. Instead of the typical standard withdrawal rate, they’ve come up with an approach to identify the portion of your assets you can spend on FUN in retirement. You can decide if you want to spend it early in retirement, when you’re still healthy, or save it longer and risk letting someone else spend it for you!

Great retirement information every week. Social Security to estate planning. Listen every week!

I really enjoy this podcast. Jim and Chris have a tremendous amount of knowledge and are very generous with what they share with their listeners. I enjoy the camaraderie and affection they have on the podcast and the passion for what they do. The more episodes you listen to the more you will learn -- don't let the occasional good humored banter put you off! Their detailed table of contents for each show is incredibly helpful as well.

Rehashes well understood and known concepts with silly naming.

Jim and Chris do deep dive’s into all retirement related subjects. They manage to teach what could be some boring information in an entertaining way. They have a unique approach to retirement planning that is far above the cookie cutter 4% safe withdrawal/Monte Carlo style. They definitely have the heart of a teacher.

I have learned many things from this show, but the format is intolerable. Stretching 40 minutes of content into an show that runs 1 hour and 15 minutes is torture. No one wants to hear all of your personal stories and “hints”. It wastes too much time and detracts from the content. Please shorten the podcast and maybe I will return. However, there are other equally informative shows that don’t dwell on useless minutiae that are much shorter.

Unfortunately, Jim recently has been hung up on the topic of annuities. He spends too much time on the annuity topic. Chris , on the other hand, is very informative and knows a lot in regards to retirement finance . I listen to this show only in hopes to learn something from Chris.

I subscribe to quite a few podcasts, but this is one of the small handful I make a point to listen to every week. I’ve learned tons about working with Social Security decisions, retirement income planning, and a great number of different risks and opportunities to consider as we navigate this complex challenge of funding our retirement years. Plus, Jim and Chris crack me up. Thanks for all you do!

Chris and Jim, oops, I’m sorry…Jim and Chris are very good at taking a subject and dissecting it until even a troglodyte like me can understand the particulars and potential effects of each concept to my retirement planning. Like everyone else, the time I have to dedicate to planning a large portion of my life is hard to find. Luckily for me, the amount of time I spend in the car can be converted to education about this very important topic. The dynamic between Jim and Chris is exactly as it seems: great friends hanging out and discussing a topic they are both very passionate about. It is refreshing and more interesting than listening to some egomaniac that isn’t a CFP telling you how fortunate he was with a single approach. I would, and do, recommend this show to everyone, whether they have started planning or not.

I listen to about a dozen different retirement podcasts and this is by far the best for the do it yourself planner.

These guys dig into details that every do it yourself retirement planner and investor love. Love the humor too!

This podcast is loaded with great info on how to plan wisely for retirement. It’s most useful if you are within five years of retirement or already retired. Jim and Chris will teach you plenty about a variety of topics, and especially about how important it is to consider them all together. Social Security, IRAs and 401(k)s, Roth conversions, budgeting, smart investing, tax planning - it’s all here.

I have listened to many episodes and can’t get enough. I love the depth of the answers. I do speed up the podcast which helps with the length of each episode.

I modified my earlier feedback as I discovered they have talked about their approach and terminology in detail in prior episodes. Previously, my feedback was critical of this podcast, but after I searched and listened to prior podcasts from up to 3 years back, I now appreciate their approach and am trying to implement it. My apologies for previous critical feedback. In order to prevent this I would recommend they make a Table of content and refer to their prior podcasts on some of the main terms they use over and over again, like MDF, Fun number, their approach to retirement planning. It is all there but a standing reference to those series of shows will help new listeners a great deal. Please keep up the excellent podcast 🙏🏼

These guys certainly know their stuff but I find myself hoping to find that Jim is on vacation. Chris has good presentation and a wealth of knowledge. Jim gets off on tangents. This week it was his back pain and his addiction to CheeseIts. Who really cares? I don’t wish the guy anything bad but I think Chris would do a far better job solo.

Have listened for years. So much excellent content.

Really enjoy the content, especially the listener emails and questions. However Chis talks way to much about nothing and belabors a point for 3-4x the time needed. It’s a struggle to listen too. I don’t mind a few minutes of banter, but good gravy.

The best source of retirement information out there

My husband and I learned a great deal from Jim and Chris, and subsequently shaped a secure, common/sense retirement plan. We are now thoroughly enjoying our retirement days! Life is good. We don’t worry about the future. We aren’t rich but we have allocated our resources wisely—thanks to Jim and Chris!—and live well! These guys are quirky—but don’t undervalue what they are offering (for free) on these podcasts.

Jim and Chris are quite knowledgeable in all things leading up to and including retirement planning. They do sometimes get off on tangents, but I have learned more from their podcast than any other.

Jim and Chris are very knowledgeable, informative and entertaining I really enjoy listening and learning about all aspects relating to investing, saving and retirement Thank you for all you do!!

Great show and great information!

If you are unsure how to prepare for retirement, you need to spend 90 minutes every Wed and Sat with Jim and Chris. Lots of good information you will NOT get from your 30-something AUM advisor. (If that abbreviation stumps you, better start listening ASAP!) As to the references about “rants”-you youngsters will someday learn that we boomers are not ranting, only generously sharing our vast accumulated wisdom. Keep it up Jim and Chris!

See above

A mainly entertaining and always educational Show . Occasionally Jim goes on too long but a small price to pay for what he gives you . I look forward to each show and wish there were 5 shows a week

Love the unscripted banter, and the length is perfect to walk or even workout to. Not to mention they admit when they don’t know something and follow up on it. One of the best retirement shows out there.

Jim and Chris are providing a tremendous service to those that listen. Extremely passionate, thorough, technical analysis, balanced with perspective on how limited and unpredictable life can be. Entertaining exchange between Jim and Chris just makes the show a must listen.

Jim and Chris are very knowledgeable. Explain things in detail, but in terms that are easily understood . I enjoy there off topic banter , seems more like an informal conversation than a college lecture. (That’s the point). Thanks for giving up so much of your time. I appreciate it. Richard

I used to really like this show. Now I’m pretty much tired of the format. They do know their subject very well. Actually, Chris is usually great. But, Jim just likes to hear himself talk too much. The “which state?” guessing game and the “George” routine are examples of totally wasted time. It’s like Jim wants to be running a financial rehash of The Car Guys. It gets old.

While I’m getting some good information, like another reviewer said, “way too chatty”. It takes them an hour to give the information they could have easily given in a 20 minute podcast without all the superfluous talk. They repeat the same thing over and over and you reach the point where you’re thinking “Just land the plane already!!!”.

Updated review: at first I gave this 1 star, since Jim’s meandering and chatty style turned me off. Then, reading someone else’s review that said I should just listen to the “EDU” edition episodes focused on the Fun Number, I decided to give them another try. Having listened to about 4 or 5 hours of EDU episodes, I’m a convert and am upgrading from 1 star to 4 stars. These guys have an interesting and thoughtful perspective and I learned a lot from listening. That said, this is still a podcast that I’ll dabble in here and there, focused on the EDU episodes (gonna listen to the MDF episodes next, now that I understand the Fun Number), and will probably skip many of the other more chatty episodes.

Very educational with lots of humor!!! Jim, Chris and the team deliver!!! In depth analyses which are very easy to understand and never boring!

Cmon. I didn’t need to be lectured on the $2.8M example. I honestly don’t know why I waste my time. The answer is that once you do get to the content it’s good. Here is my review that I previously wrote. PLEASE, get to the show and don’t waste my time with that stupid show “huh”. I really enjoy your show but find myself skipping thru the first 10 min and fast forwarding thru certain answers on a very specific problem that applies to a person convicted of a felony and whether they’re entitled to some benefit. Keep up the good work but keep the “rabbit hole” stuff to a min. Best of health to the guy with the heart issue.

Love the show. Jim and Chris do a great job of explaining things in depth. Most other finance podcasts just give general answers and miss all the nuance of specific situations. Love the interaction between the hosts. Their show is always my first choice to listen to when a new episode is released .

At first, the rabbit holes and off topic banter was fun. As another reviewer noted, Jim’s ability to spend 60 minutes on a 10 minute topic is unmatched. Actually it could be more like 100 minutes because he repeats insignificant trivia and likes to hear himself talk. I do wish him well with his health.

Love when Chris goes in details on social security questions about years 1960 1961 1962 also enjoy your take Jim

Save some time, hours in this case, and only listen to one of these EDU shows: 2301, 2302, or 2303. It’s the same information repeated across 3 shows. Supposedly, EDU show 2304 will discuss “How” to come up with the fun number.🤞