Cannot complete episodes because Alex interrupts and seems to lack self-awareness. Wade is the one with the credibility and should find a different partner or go solo to explore these topics.

This podcast is 20% outstanding content and 80% Alex loudly rambling about things that are unrelated and distracting. If you could get that down below 50/50 it would be much easier to make it to the end. Case in point was the response to the REITS question in the last episode - just answer the question that was asked and allow Wade to share his knowledge. Wade is so knowledgeable and knows this stuff at a level that few others do - it’s a shame that listening to the rest of the podcast is so painful. Some banter is fine, but don’t let it overwhelm and distract from the content.

The content and guests are great and very useful. It is clear Wade has an enormous amount of subject matter expertise and can talk about almost any retirement topic. Alex used to prompt Wade to explain in practical terms the content and pushed to provide examples. The past few months Alex’s only role seems to be to try and tell jokes or share inside comments that are distracting at best. He interrupts the flow of conventions to try and interject, but he was better off and added much more value when he tried to keep the conversation moving. I hope they take this feedback as I enjoy the podcast material but am finding listening to them so much more challenging of late

Wade is the brains of this podcast but barely speaks. In contrast, Alex seemingly knows very little, but he can’t stop talking. And Alex’s attempt to always be funny always falls flat. A shame, since Wade wrote the book on retiring. Skip this podcast.

This podcast would be so much better if only Alex was not on it. Love Wade though.

I was excited to find this podcast. Unfortunately, the first episode. I listen to, episode 145 on sequencing withdrawals was not very useful to me. I could not follow what was being said, it was not clear or logical to me, and they spoke so much jargon, I could not get much out of it. The other irritating thing about it was the tinny, echoey sound quality combined with the poor enunciation of the speakers, made listening to it unpleasant. Then I turned to the transcript which read like a stream of consciousness. The only thing I got out of this episode was the phrase sequenced withdrawal, which I will use to google something more coherent to read.

Wade has great content. I know because I read it on the internet. However, his podcast voice & volume is too unmodulated and soft and his words too close together that even at max volume and replays it can be unintelligible too many times. I love podcasts, but unfortunately have to read the transcript for this show.

I like the information provided by Wade. But his sidekick, Alex, is really annoying. The jokes are not appreciated. I find it hard to listen to the entire show because the presentation of the information is annoyingly frustrating to listen to. I would suggest that they ask an a neutral third party to listen to a show and ask what they think of the presentation.

Great topics, but all the joking around and giggling is annoying. Too many inside jokes.

I like the information presented by Wade. I think there is a lot of great financial planning guidance. Unfortunately many times it’s hard to listen to the podcast because of the sidekick, Alex. He is very annoying with his bad jokes (that only he laughs at) and distracting comments. He diverts the conversation away from topic and does not add much to the conversation. Most of the time I am waiting for Alex to stop talking nonsense, so I can hear what Wade has to say.

This is too frustrating to continue to listen. A better interviewer to allow for Wade to educate is sorely needed.

I have to say I have learned so much from this podcast about planning for the financial aspects of planning for retirement. I really appreciate BOTH hosts taking the time to put this together. I personally think both of their styles are a great compliment to each other. I was moved to write the review as their financial considerations of Long Term Care series/arc (now 3 episodes in…115+) is the best coverage of the topic I have been able to find anywhere and I have been looking for a long time. Thank you so much for laying this out with so much detail and helpful information. I hope the rest of the series has as much detail, Ana does about your own experiences with loved ones and useful information as the first 3 episodes in the series have contained so far. This podcast is a great compliment to Wade’s book which I did also read. I have to say I personally love this conversational format versus text. Keep up the great work.

In the year 1980 the Dow went up 15% and Bob Marley released an album with lyrics that foretold this podcast: “Laughing hyena, sometimes shifting coke, he’ll be laughing when there ain’t no joke.”

A slight omission when answering today’s question about Social Security survivor benefits — many folks may not be aware that full retirement age can be different for survivor benefits vs. claiming on one’s own record.

I had to stop listening, I couldn’t listen to the hast laughing to his stupid jokes

I like this podcast except for Alex, He acts like an idiot. I’m not tuning in for stupid comments.

I wish Wade would talk more. He’s the reason people tune in to this podcast. I really don’t know what Alex’s contribution is. He mostly just makes wise cracks and laughs. It’s hard to take him seriously. So often he seems to know almost nothing about what Wade is talking about.

The information provided is terrific, once Wade gets a chance to talk. But the guy who thinks he's funny, and giggles constantly, is quite annoying. There are several episode I've had to abandon because of excessive jibber-jabber and off-topic asides. Please stop that, and focus on the topic at hand.

Read a text of words spoken on the podcast. It should be Wade 3-1 Alex. It’s the opposite or more. 1 joke per show.

I really benefit from the content and context that Wade provides. However, I rarely make it through a whole episode because of Alex dominating and bringing up all kinds of tangents and details that make me just too frustrated to keep trying to follow the thread. I really want this voice in the podcast world (Retirement Researcher) so please find a new co-host to support what Wade has to share.

This podcast continues to suffer from lack of focus and it is an insult that they are going to subject us to 2 rambling sessions per week. Quality not quantity is important. Original review below. Unfortunately this podcast is not getting better and I’m losing patience with it. They are getting longer and there is not enough material in them to justify it. Too much wasted time with chit chat. Just get tot the material. More is not better. Adding a 3rd host makes transitions even worse since it doesn’t seem like anyone knows who should talk next. Been listening from the beginning keep hoping that they get better. Awkward transitions. Also the have about 30 mins of material but it seems to long at 45-50 mins. Smart guys and good material. Needs to be more consise and smooth.

First I love this multi episode arch on social security. I assume most listeners are DIY when it comes to their own retirement income planning and this is the most inclusive on the topic that I have found (among those I follow). Second I squealed with joy when I heard Mary Beth Franklin ! She IS a fabulous resource (website and ebook!) very conversational with a great voice (nod to broadcast journalism), and yes I love her stuff over at Investment News. Thirdly, if you are married and looking at the general angles, this is the BEST round up I have ever heard. If I was an advisor, I would be pinning this (or the youtube video), for my clients.

I had to cut short my enjoyment of your episode with Mary Beth Franklin because your co-host like to hear himself talk so much that he is speaking more than the guest, saying things that do nothing to advance my knowledge of the subject and are not at all entertaining. You are going to have increasing difficulty attracting guests of this caliber if Alex is not more respectful of everyone’s time and sensibilities. Give him a tape recorder so he can listen to himself but duct tape his mouth shut when you’re broadcasting. I thought you had learned this a couple months ago but I guess not. I’m sad, because I respect what you guys write (and bought Wade’s book). Your podcast should be equally good, but not when it becomes a self-absorbed clown show.

Listened to my first episode. Totally get what people are saying in the reviews. Feedback is a gift. How can the podcast still have Alex on it after the reviews begging to remove him? Podcast malpractice. Could be so much better.

I’m listening to episode 64 and totally forgot they introduced a guest. It’s 2/3 through the podcast and the guy chimes in and say a couple words. Then suddenly, I’m reminded THEY HAD A GUEST!!! Wade just talked forever and Alex continues to annoy. Why did you even bother to waste this guy’s time?

Wade is a valuable font of information. Really wish he had someone less grating to interact with. I’m sure Alex has many valuable skills but podcasting doesn’t appear to be one of them.

Had to stop listening. Alex laughs like a hyena At EVERYTHING! I can’t hear most of what Wade says.

Just listened for a short time and stopped because I was really annoyed by Alex’s interruptions and silly, stupid comments.

I love Alex so much, great jokes had me rolling on the floor!

I’ve been listening since the beginning, but todays podcast #55 prompts this review. The podcasts are informative and interesting but sometimes expands 15 minutes of information into a 45 minute slog. The entertainment is in the topics, not so much the witty repartee and side commentary that is sometimes distracting. Wade’s book is dense but well presented and easy to get through if you digest it one chapter at a time - like I think this podcast could be. Just an opinion, but it appears that it is not isolated.

… but Alex makes it UNLISTENABLE. He talks over everyone which makes it impossible to hear anybody when he does that. He constantly interrupts, makes ridiculous comments, and laughs at stuff he says that is not funny. As a special ed teacher, I believe he must have ADHD and the constant banging, clicking, shuffling, and tapping In the background must surely be him. Mute your microphone if you need to fidget constantly! I want to learn the content but find myself not being able to take Alex for very long until I have to stop listening. In some episodes he is actually calm and then you can see that he knows his stuff and has good info to share. Get on some ADHD meds, Alex.

Wade and Alex, I so much enjoy and learn from your podcast show! I listen to it every week. My only issue with your style is the following: Alex, I love ya but please, please, please, allow your guests to speak more than you do. I tend to believe your role is to ask the smart questions, as you do. But then allowing them to talk more than you do in their comments/answers really Facilitates our learning from your podcasts. Thank you both so very much for doing what you do in the field of retirement income Planning and tax planning! Susan

I’ll join the chorus that Alex completely destroys the quality of this podcast.

Love the insight. Love the humor. Alex and Wade’s humor make this an extremely enjoyable journey.

Alex is EXTREMELY annoying. I realize they’re trying to make the podcast easier to listen to by giving Wade an interlocutor, but they need to find someone better than Alex. He’s loud, obnoxious, and most of his comments are off topic and dumb. Get rid of him!!

If I could cut out Alex’s comments I would listen more. Not sure what value he brings? Wade is the brains and who brings more value to this podcast.

While I appreciate the effort and intent of the show, it is almost impossible to listen to. So much chit chat, wasted time. The last one I listened to have 5 minutes of discussion about starched shirts, TSA and hot wheels just to start the show. My recommendation is to get to the very important topics and do not deviate. For now, I have unsubscribed as there are much better podcasts out there. May give it another shot in the future to see if it has improved.

Changing my rating to one star…bailed after 14 minutes due to Alex babbling on. Some great content is provided by Wade on this podcast. Unfortunately Alex makes it painful to listen to most of the time. I’ve listened to several episodes, but often stopped mid episode due to being annoyed by Alex’s comments and constant laughter (at his own “jokes”). I finally felt compelled to right a review after listening to 10 minutes of the episode on the 4% rule, where Alex babbled at the beginning about how bad the rule was shortly after Wade explained what it was. Which completely disrupted the flow of the whole show. I’ll probably continue to listen to at least a portion of the shows, but really hoping improvements are made.

I appreciate that each of these presenters have advanced degrees and know more than I on these matters. Thank you both for sharing your studies, findings, and perspectives -- all of which help me think about retirement spending in different ways. Regarding the number of periods (67?) that Bengen's research addressed, I can see how the real number of 'unique' periods is far less given the only 1-yr overlap...but, don't you think looking at it each year does have value when calculating seq of ret risk? I'm thinking about that one. Thanks again, and do please reduce the silly giggling banter and stick to the topic...this isn't Entertainment Tonight after all ... I'm guessing most of your audience isn't here for that.

I really enjoy the RISA and the underlying research. This podcast is a great companion to Wade’s retirement book. I struggle to continue listening though. Alex seems to be ill prepared for each episode an mostly speaks off the cuff. He is rude to Wade and comes off passive aggressive. I wish I could give Wade a 5 star review and Alex 1 star.

The sooner you lose your cohost the quicker your podcast improves. I own your books, read your articles and receive your emails. This guy is a disaster and adds nothing to your presentation. Make it twice as long — all Wade. Go for it.

Poor Wade! Please for everyone’s sanity - remove Alex yesterday! I have been a fan of Wade for years. I was so excited that he had a podcast. I have been reading Wade’s new book -which is excellent! But I can barely get thru the podcast with Alex’s banter, how he treats Wade, why is he there? With all of Wade’s fans I know there are better “side kicks” please for all of us - find somebody soon. You are losing listeners- and not gaining new ones if Alex stays. I gave five stars for Wade and his information. I rarely comment on anything, ask Amazon, they always want my eval on product/services I use. I have so much passion on this issue- it made me take the time to write this. Please don’t let my efforts and the others who have written in be in vain! This should be the number one financial podcast — period. Your fans are here for you Wade❤️

Episode 26…. Suggestions for those who are underfunded were limited to taking more investment risk. Nobody mentioned needing more time to go along with taking more risk. The underfunded state can be cured through multiple actions: 1. Wait longer to retire 2. Take a part time job during the early years of retirement 3. Trim expenses 4. Take more investment risk 5. Drop your legacy ambitions Trying to extract higher returns in a short amount of time is a risky proposition. A wise woman once said, “if you don’t have a lot of money, you need a lot of time.” Otherwise the show is great!

Dr. Pfau is an acknowledged expert but Alex is bothersome. Content is decent, but Alex is not as funny as he thinks he is. He makes it difficult to listen to the podcast

Wade Pfau has a lot to offer, but I can barely make it through Alex’s attempts at joking around. It wastes their time & ours. I will be back to try again when the focus is on the listener’s experience. I will be back.

A lot of helpful information presented in a listenable way. Both Alex and Wade do a great job. Thank you for such an excellent podcast!

Wade is great to listen to. Alex not so much - silly humor, giggling, nonsensical linking of topics to examples. Dial it back Alex.

This content resonates with me more than anything the financial services industry has produced in the past decade. The delivery needs more polish, and I hope you are going to start interviewing other people as well (users and professionals).

Alex brings irrelevant bad humor to this podcast. I love Dr Pfau and would prefer he find a better compliment for discussion than Alex who comes off flippant and irreverent. You deserve better Dr Pfau!

Good financial insight. Bad podcast.