Bring Out The Best in Your Retirement: 6 Steps to Write a Resignation Letter for Retirement 

One of the main reasons why people submit resignation letters is that they have reached the end of their working life due to their age, resulting in a retirement. 

However, It is advised that you prepare a thoughtful resignation letter when transitioning from employment to retirement to help you maintain the company relations and coworker relationships you built over the years of your career. By submitting a resignation letter, you allow your company to effectively prepare for your departure. 

In this article, we will discuss what a resignation letter is and why you should write one for retirement, as well as provide letter examples that you may use. 

What is a Resignation Letter for Retirement? 

A retirement letter is a formal notice in which an employee resigns from their position and requests retirement benefits. Because retirement is usually a well-planned process, it’s best to give the employer six to twelve months’ notice. 

A person seeking retirement is most likely a highly skilled employee within the organization. As a result, it’s best to give the employer enough time to prepare for the individual’s departure.

A retirement letter is usually sent along with a verbal notice to your immediate supervisor. Before filing your retirement letter, you may want to set up a meeting to explain your plans to retire. This letter will be filed in your employee file, along with other important documents such as your job contract and performance evaluations.

What to Include in This Letter

Resignation letters, like other professional correspondences, should include the following components:

• Heading 

At the top of a written letter, include the date, the recipient’s name, the name of the company, and the address.

• Salutation

Include a brief greeting addressed to the recipient at the start of a letter. If you know the reader personally, use their first name, such as “Dear Emily,” but for a more formal letter, use their title and last name, such as “Dear Ms. Gardner.”

• Body

The body can contain one to five paragraphs. The first paragraph should begin with a statement about your intention to retire, including a date. Personal information, such as skills developed or retirement plans, can be included in the following paragraphs. 

Consider writing about your experience with the company and thanking your employer for the opportunity to work for the organization for a more sincere letter. You could also offer to help with the transition.

• Signature 

Finally, the letter must be signed and include a concluding sentence. Whether you’re printing or handwriting the letter, make sure to sign it with a pen.

How to Create a Resignation Letter for Retirement

Consider the following suggestions when writing your retirement resignation letter:

1. Address the right recipients 

Your retirement letter should be addressed to your boss. Send the original to this person and a copy to human resources. Because your health care coverage and pension will be managed by the HR department, they must be included in this notification.

2. Indicate your retirement date 

Include your retirement date close to the top of the letter so that it is easily accessible. Provide at least two weeks’ notice to your employer. Employees who have been with the company for a long time usually give at least a month’s notice.

When you meet with your supervisor to discuss your plans, you can discuss the best time to retire. In this case, your retirement letter simply reaffirms the previously agreed-upon date.

3. Express gratitude for your experience

Thank your employer for the opportunity to work with them and express your appreciation for your experiences there. Give specific examples of people or projects that have had a significant impact on you.

4. Offer help with the transition 

If necessary, offer to assist in the hiring or training of your replacement. This is extremely crucial if your role is complex or if you are abandoning major projects. You could suggest a coworker as your replacement or delegate specific projects to others who are familiar with the duties.

5. Discuss about consulting 

Inform your employer if you desire to engage in consulting or freelancer during your retirement. This may ensure that you are among the first to be considered if your employer requires this type of service.

6. Describe your retirement necessities

Describe the retirement benefits you want. Inform your employer of any requirements you have for healthcare, retirement plans, or your pension. Mention any unused vacation or sick days for which you are eligible for compensation. If you are not paid by direct deposit, you can also clearly state when and how you will receive your final paycheck.

Tips for Writing this Resignation Letter

Here are some pointers to consider when writing your own resignation letter:

• Tone: You can use a casual or formal tone depending on your position and the culture of your institution.
• Quality: Maintaining the company’s positive perception of you requires sending a well-crafted resignation letter. Making your resignation brief, concise, and error-free communicates to your recipients that you appreciate them and your working relationship.
• Recipients: You should give your letter to your manager so that they can prepare for your departure. You may also need to provide a copy to your human resources department in case your benefits need to be processed.
• Method of delivery: You should try to deliver your letter in person so that you can directly interact with your manager. If you work from home, you can send your notice via email.

Sample and Template

Here is a sample and template of retirement letter that can be your guide in writing your own: 

Letter #1: Retirement Letter Example 

Faye Laude

123 Anytown, NY 456

324-567-0034

fayelaude@email.com

October 19, 2019 

Jaden Green 

Freefly Asset Management 

2345 Courtyard St. 

Albany, NY 12365 

Dear Mr. Green, 

I’m sending this letter to inform you that I will be leaving FreeFly Asset Management on March 1, 2019. This was a difficult decision to make, and I value my time at the company. Your advice in particular has assisted me in becoming a more skilled investment manager and a more experienced member of this firm.

Throughout my 20 years at Freefly, from mailroom clerk to northwestern regional director, I have indeed been proud of the company’s integrity and success. My workmates have always treated our clients’ portfolios with extreme care. I attribute FreeFly’s growth to the high quality of our workforce and services. I have increased our total capital investment by 435% since taking over my division, and I assume this upward trend will continue after I retire.

I understand that finding a replacement for me may take some time, so I’d like to offer my assistance with anything you may require. My current assistant is Anna Washington, and I believe she is the best candidate for my position. Furthermore, as you are aware, I developed my own database to track and manage clients’ portfolios, and I would be delighted to teach this system to any of the partners before I depart.

Many exciting plans await me in the near future, including vacations with my wife and the relocation of my granddaughter to college. Although I will miss the FreeFly team, I am looking forward to spending more time with my loved ones.

Please let me know if there are any possibilities for me to work as an advisor for FreeFly. Thank you for your concern and care over the last twenty years.

Sincerely, 

(signature)

Faye Laude 

Letter #2: Retirement Email Resignation Example  

Lily Woods – Retirement resignation December 28 

Dear Crawford, 

Despite my sadness, I will be leaving Louche’ after 30 years on December 28. I’m excited to travel with my husband and our two dogs, Benny and Maggie. We’ve already purchased an RV and intend to travel to Florida immediately following Christmas.

When Louche’ opened new locations in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, I was overjoyed to see the company expand into new markets. I am grateful for the opportunity to supervise the building projects of those new facilities. I’m confident that your new businesses in Chicago and Milwaukee will be incredibly successful.

As we make preparations for my departure, I want you to know that I am willing to do whatever I can to make the transition easier. I was on the hiring committee for the final few candidates for my department, so I could assist you in interviewing potential employees.

I would be happy to introduce my replacement to our suppliers across the country because I have excellent working relationships with them. I’m confident that whoever you choose to fill my position will do a superb job of maintaining the relationships I’ve built over the years.

Along with my best wishes, I’d like to request that you process my  pension at your earliest convenience. The funds will come in handy when Dale and I start our journey. We’ll definitely send postcards!

All the best, 

Lily Woods

Letter #3: Retirement Letter Template 

[Your name]

[Your address]

[Your city, state and zip code]

[Your phone number]

[Your email address]

[Date]

[Supervisor’s name]

[Supervisor’s title]

[Company name]

[Company address]

[Company city, state and zip code]

Dear [Supervisor]:

I’m writing to inform you of my impending retirement. My final day at [Company] is [date].

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend the last [duration of employment] with [Company]. I learned a lot from [colleague] and believe my [skills] improved significantly during my time as [job title]. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of [project] and work with [clients].

Please let me know how I can assist you in making the transition after my retirement as smooth as possible. I would be delighted to assist in the hiring or training of my replacement. During my retirement, I will also be available to serve as a consultant if any opportunities arise.

[Discuss any accumulated unpaid vacation time and what you would like the company to do with it.]

Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to work with [Company]. I wish you all the best in the coming years!

Sincerely,

Your name 

Final Thoughts 

• Address your letter to the right recipients and provide an extra copy for the human resources. 
• Offer help for a smoother transition of your retirement. 
• Indicate the benefits you are seeking in retirement and let your employer know what you need from them regarding healthcare and your pension. 
• Express your gratitude for having the opportunity to work with them for several years. 
• Keep the letter professional and concise.