Retirement isn't broken - but the way we talk about it is.
You worked hard, saved diligently, and planned carefully.
But why doesn't retirement feel the way you expected?
The truth is: financial planning is just the beginning.
Real retirement success comes from building a life filled with purpose, connection, and fulfillment.
���� Did You Know?
- Nearly 1 in 3 retirees lose their sense of identity after leaving the workforce.
- Over 40% report feeling unhappy, even with financial security.
- Retirement can increase the risk of depression by up to 40%.
In Retirement Shock, David J. Cook - executive, entrepreneur, psychology graduate, and trained in strategy and innovation at Oxford University- reveals the emotional and psychological shifts that catch so many retirees off guard. With compassion and clarity, he offers a structured guide to building a resilient, meaningful retirement plan beyond the numbers.
Through compelling real-life stories, practical frameworks, and an actionable step-by-step guide, Retirement Shock will help you create a retirement that's not just financially secure, but rich in purpose, momentum, and joy.
Because real retirement success isn't just about money - it's about the life you create with it.
David John Cook is the founder of Retirement Shock Research(TM) and author of Retirement Shock: The Real Reason Retirement Feels Empty-And a Step-by-Step Guide to a Life That Matters. A retired senior executive and serial entrepreneur, he spent decades helping businesses and government agencies turn data and technology into solutions that managed risk and created value.David holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and earned a diploma in Strategy and Innovation from Oxford University, blending behavioral insight with strategic expertise. After stepping away from a high-stakes career, he experienced the emotional challenges of retirement firsthand-identity loss, restlessness, and the surprising absence of purpose, even with financial stability.Today, he writes to help others navigate these unseen hurdles with a mix of research, candid storytelling, and real-world strategies. He is currently writing his next book, Retirement Has Changed - Have You?, and will soon release the first-of-its-kind Retirement Satisfaction Index(TM), offering an annual pulse check on how retirees are really doing.David lives in Florida with his wife, Suzanne, stays active in disaster relief volunteering, and enjoys pickleball, golf, and other outdoor pursuits. Through his writing, he invites readers to challenge outdated retirement thinking and design a future they can wake up excited about.
