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Retirement Heaven or Hell: 9 Principles for Designing Your Ideal Post-Career Lifestyle
You've dreamed of retirement for decades, even worked hard to save for it. But what will your life look like when you stop working?
Are you overwhelmed and scared by the prospect of retirement? Maybe traditional full-stop retirement isn't for you, or you have no idea what kind of lifestyle you want. Running out of money is also a huge worry, but even the best financial plan will fail without lifestyle planning. Without a clear vision for your life after work, you're doomed to Retirement Hell.
This book goes beyond the numbers to help you discover and plan for your version of Retirement Heaven, the post-career life that's right for you-a special period in your life when you can reconnect with yourself, those you love, and your passions, to create a lifestyle with more balance, purpose, and fulfillment than ever before.
Coaches you on how to transition successfully to retirement and eliminate the stress that comes with this huge life change.
Outlines nine key principles for a happy, healthy, fulfilling retirement.
Helps you overcome the shock and loss of sudden, full-stop retirement and learn how to put purpose back into your life.
If you're struggling with the idea of retirement, following the nine guiding principles in Heaven or Hell will empower you to choose and plan for a happy, healthy, fulfilling life after work.
Are you overwhelmed and scared by the prospect of retirement? Maybe traditional full-stop retirement isn't for you, or you have no idea what kind of lifestyle you want. Running out of money is also a huge worry, but even the best financial plan will fail without lifestyle planning. Without a clear vision for your life after work, you're doomed to Retirement Hell.
This book goes beyond the numbers to help you discover and plan for your version of Retirement Heaven, the post-career life that's right for you-a special period in your life when you can reconnect with yourself, those you love, and your passions, to create a lifestyle with more balance, purpose, and fulfillment than ever before.
Coaches you on how to transition successfully to retirement and eliminate the stress that comes with this huge life change.
Outlines nine key principles for a happy, healthy, fulfilling retirement.
Helps you overcome the shock and loss of sudden, full-stop retirement and learn how to put purpose back into your life.
If you're struggling with the idea of retirement, following the nine guiding principles in Heaven or Hell will empower you to choose and plan for a happy, healthy, fulfilling life after work.
- GenresNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2025
29 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 14, 2021
A great book for those approaching retirement, or struggling with the adjustment to retired life. Mike went through "Retirement Hell" and found his way to "Retirement Heaven". What he learned will be of great value to others seeking to avoid time in Hell. See my blog (The Retirement Manifesto) for a complete review of the book dated Jan 21, 2021.
January 13, 2021
When Mike involuntarily left a career after more than three decades in financial services, he entered what he calls "Retirement Hell." Through trial and error, he found his path to "Retirement Heaven" and decided to write a book about his experience to help others navigate this challenging transition. Typical of the wry wit in the book is Mike's pronouncement, "Think of me as a retirement crash test dummy." Mike shares some excellent advice, offering nine specific principles designed to help readers enjoy "an exceptional retirement." He discusses each principle in detail and lays out an action plan for how to move forward into new territory.
Interspersed throughout the book are Mike's salient observations about his own journey. He also includes numerous snippets concerning how the pandemic shaped his thinking and the impact it inevitably has on retirement planning. These elements make the book both personal and timely. In the end, Mike encourages us to strive to become "Retirement Rebels." Mike suggests these folks "are the trailblazers who have regained the curiosity and wonder of a child, traveling the world to see and experience new places, entering marathons in different cities, learning to use new technology, volunteering, starting new businesses, and posting all about it on social media."
Retirement Heaven or Hell is a worthwhile read for any Boomers about to take their next step or those who have already entered their post-careers and need some guidance and encouragement.
Interspersed throughout the book are Mike's salient observations about his own journey. He also includes numerous snippets concerning how the pandemic shaped his thinking and the impact it inevitably has on retirement planning. These elements make the book both personal and timely. In the end, Mike encourages us to strive to become "Retirement Rebels." Mike suggests these folks "are the trailblazers who have regained the curiosity and wonder of a child, traveling the world to see and experience new places, entering marathons in different cities, learning to use new technology, volunteering, starting new businesses, and posting all about it on social media."
Retirement Heaven or Hell is a worthwhile read for any Boomers about to take their next step or those who have already entered their post-careers and need some guidance and encouragement.
April 28, 2021
This is by far the best book I've read yet on preparing for retirement. It treats retirement as a new phase of life (not a destination) and outlines the things you'll need to consider when planning it. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2023
Self help book with advice for those struggling with retirement. I didn’t find this was a good read for me: it was aimed at a problem I don’t have and contained typical self-help advice I’d heard before. I also thought the author was quite judgemental about how some people choose to spend their time.
January 29, 2024
I have had a 35 year career in the financial servicies industry in Toronto and I will be retiring from that career this year. This is a tremendous change in my lifestyle and one that I have been preparing for over the last 3 years. I believe that anyone who is about to go through such a change should prepare themselves and that is why I would highly recommend this book.
The author has come up with 9 principles that will act as guidelines within your post retirement lifestyle. I will leave it to you to go through these. Suffice to say, that you should think of your retirement as a new beginning. Something that you should be excited about not simply because it is a very long vacation but a period in your life when you can accomplish whatever you want whenever you want. If you are planning, if you are maintaining healthy habits, if you are excited about what you are doing, if you are engaged and if you have a sense of purpose, then you will be extremely happy and you have it right. I think above all else, these points are extremely personnel and are different for everyone.
So do yourself a favour, do some research, learn about retirement and enjoy the ride!
The author has come up with 9 principles that will act as guidelines within your post retirement lifestyle. I will leave it to you to go through these. Suffice to say, that you should think of your retirement as a new beginning. Something that you should be excited about not simply because it is a very long vacation but a period in your life when you can accomplish whatever you want whenever you want. If you are planning, if you are maintaining healthy habits, if you are excited about what you are doing, if you are engaged and if you have a sense of purpose, then you will be extremely happy and you have it right. I think above all else, these points are extremely personnel and are different for everyone.
So do yourself a favour, do some research, learn about retirement and enjoy the ride!
October 31, 2021
Lots of common sense
Well written and interesting. Can skimmer same get most of the content.
Good list of questions to help you work through your goals and planning
A worthwhile read, I would think especially for men. I could relate.
Well written and interesting. Can skimmer same get most of the content.
Good list of questions to help you work through your goals and planning
A worthwhile read, I would think especially for men. I could relate.
August 24, 2021
This was a great book, it got me thinking.
July 19, 2022
Very well organized retirement planning book that focuses on non-financial aspects of life after carreer.
April 12, 2024
This book is very helpful for anyone who is already retired as well as those who are close to retiring. I'm almost 2 years into retirement and I found a lot of helpful ideas to keep myself out of 'Retirement Hell'. I felt the author referenced his own frustration with being 'forced' into retirement a little too much (it feels like he was still very bitter about it?) but if that's happened to anyone else I'm sure it would be relatable. Overall, the book was easy to consume and the action steps are clearly laid out.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews