CVIS, are you in the always-rainy/cloudy weather pattern some people have had this summer? If so, that may be why it's been happy before but struggling this year, lanky growth and using less water. That could help explain why, if the problem is that it's been too moist. Is the pot is so packed with roots that water can't penetrate, in which case it might actually be wilting? It's so hard to tell from a pic, too dry and too wet look can look the same on the plant. This pot just looks parched to me. If the blinds are always at half-mast, maybe it's not so bad, maybe it's leaning down toward the light? The color of the leaves is pretty good. The trimming is not something I would do all at once, but gradually, starting with the lowest material to be removed, so it ends up looking like a tiny, well-formed tree again. The first thing to go are the flimsy green things coming from what I think are inappropriate places on the main trunk, and any in a wrong looking spot, or going a wrong direction. Then the main branches that are not right, just before the point where a branch starts to go in a wrong direction, that's where to trim it. Finish by finessing the smaller remaining branches so that anything not contributing to the overall structure in a pleasing way is removed. This is vague because we can't see the whole plant, but trimming any woody entity that has a natural general 'correct' shape to it is the same procedure. But that's just my opinion, I like a jade that looks like a big oak tree. Some people like to trim it back to a main stick with some shorter sticks and like that appearance better. But none of that matters, what people think. It's your tree, so what you want it to look like is what it should look like. When you have a pic in your mind of what it should and will look like when finished before making the first cut, you're ready to go with the pruner. IMVHO. I do not nor have not had a big ol' jade like that, just some much smaller ones, but have been told over the years I do a good job trimming in general, leaving a strong, pleasant foundation for rejuvenated growth. I would think new soil after that amount of time is a great idea, but you'd want jade repotting advice from someone with more experience than me. Definitely a huge fan of chunky, porous, well-drained soil for the replacement though, no doubt.

Would really like a piece of a gollum jade.. i cant seem to find any for sale here and they look adorable! Also another thing i can never find is Red Aloe. even a tiny pup would be awesome! I don't have much to trade yet other than healthy cuttings from a deep green coloured jade, or hens and chicks from around the yard. Thanks!

The plant looks healthy overall, with the damage on the lower leaves only. I agree with others that it just looks like the plant was bumped around a bit, I don't see evidence of any parasites. I also agree that you will run into issues before long, though, if you don't change the growing conditions. Even when I buy a potting mix specifically for succulents (which should be provide better drainage than a regular potting soil) I cut it in half with perlite. And succulents always prefer to be snug in their pots!

I might prune some of the green stuff off if certain branches look like they will shade others or to make sure the tree stays open..