How To Write a Resignation Letter Due To Retirement: Tips and Examples

When you transition from employment to retirement, it is recommended to prepare a thoughtful resignation letter that helps you maintain the company connections and coworker relationships you built over the course of your career. By submitting a resignation letter, you ensure your company has an opportunity 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.

What is a resignation letter?

A resignation letter is a formal notification to your employer that you plan to leave your job. A retirement resignation letter gives your organization time to plan for your absence and begin the process of hiring your replacement.

Image description

Resignation Letter Format

"Resignation Letter Format" is the title of this infographic that shows an image of an example resignation letter.

On the left side of the infographic, a list points to each section of the email:

1. Date

2. Address line

3. Statement of resignation

4. Last day of work

5. Statement of gratitude

6. Next steps

7. Closing and signature

The resignation letter reads:

[Date]

Dear Mr./Mrs. [Your supervisor's last name],

Please accept this as my formal resignation from XYZ company. My last day will be [insert your final day of work], two weeks from today. I am grateful for all of your support during my time here and deeply appreciate all of the valuable experiences I have gained. It has been a sincere pleasure working with you and the team.

Please let me know how I can help during this transition and make it as smooth as possible. I wish you all the best.

Best wishes, and thank you for everything, [Your name]

The standard notice for most resignation letters is two weeks, but the time can vary for retirement letters. If you hold an upper-level management position, it may take your employer months to find a suitable replacement. Consider informing your manager once you begin to make plans for your retirement so they have ample time to find and train a new or existing employee.

As with other professional correspondences, resignation letters should include the following components:

Heading

A written letter should have the date, the recipient’s name, the name of the company and the address at the top.

Salutation

When beginning a letter, include a brief greeting that addresses the recipient. If you have a personal connection with the reader, you can use their first name, like “Dear Kenesha.” For a more formal letter, it is best to use their title and last name, such as “Dear Mr. Guerrero.”

Body

The body can include between one and five paragraphs. The first paragraph should start with the statement that you intend to retire, including the date. The following paragraphs can contain personal details, such as the skills you developed or your retirement plans. For a more sincere letter, consider writing about your time at the company, and thank your employer for the opportunity to work for the organization. You can offer to assist with the transition process as well.

Signature

End the letter with a closing like “Sincerely” or “Gratefully,” followed by your signature and name.

To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

Related: Guide: Goodbye Email To Colleagues (With Examples)

Tips for writing a retirement resignation letter

Consider these tips when writing your resignation letter for retirement:

Tone

Depending on your position and the organization’s culture, you can choose a casual or formal tone. For instance, if you’re a manager at a golf course, your letter might be more informal than if you are a chief financial officer for a Fortune 500 company.

Quality

Sending a well-crafted resignation letter is important in maintaining the company’s positive perception of you. Making sure your resignation is brief, concise and free of errors lets your recipients know you value them and your working relationship. After carefully proofreading and editing your letter, consider having a friend or colleague review it and provide feedback.

Recipients

You should deliver your letter to your manager to allow them to plan for your departure. You may also need to send a copy to your human resources department in case they need to process your benefits.

Delivery method

You should try to deliver your letter in-person so you can interact directly with your manager. If you work remotely, it is acceptable to email your notice.

Related: Business Letter Format and Example

Retirement resignation letter example

Here is a retirement resignation letter example you can use as a guide when you write your own:

November 17, 2019

Ang Nguyen
FreeFlow Asset Management
2244 Courtyard St.
Albany, NY 12084

Dear Mr. Nguyen,

I am writing to inform you that I will be retiring from FreeFlow Asset Management, effective April 1, 2020. This was a difficult decision to come to, and I greatly appreciate the time I’ve spent at this company. Your guidance, in particular, has helped me become a skilled investment advisor and a more experienced member of this firm.

In my 25 years at FreeFlow, beginning as a mailroom clerk to my current position as northwestern regional director, I have been proud of the integrity and success of this company. My colleagues have always given the utmost care to our clients’ portfolios. I credit the quality of our workforce and services for FreeFlow’s growth. Since managing my division, I have grown our total investment capital by 435%, and I expect this upward trend will continue after I retire.

I understand that the hiring process for my replacement could take some time, so I want to offer my help with anything you may need. Kendrick Washington is my current assistant, and I believe he is the best candidate for my role. Additionally, as you know, I created my own database to track and manage clients’ portfolios, and I would be happy to teach this system to any of the partners before I leave.

Many exciting plans are awaiting me shortly, including vacations with my wife and moving my granddaughter to college. Although I will miss the FreeFlow team, I am excited about the quality time I’ll get to spend with my family.

If there are any opportunities available to work for FreeFlow as a consultant, please let me know. Again, thank you for your care and concern over the past 25 years.

Sincerely,
Gustavo Lopez

Related: Guide to Succession Planning and Your Career

Retirement resignation email example

If you need to send your resignation via email, you don’t have to include a header, but the subject line should indicate the content of the message. The following is a casual retirement resignation email:

Beth Andrade—Retirement resignation December 12

Dear Muhammad,

Though I’m sad to go, I will be retiring on December 12 after 30 years with Lancette. I’m looking forward to traveling with my husband and our dogs, Benny and Maggie. We’ve already purchased an RV and plan to drive to Florida right after Christmas.

When Lancette opened its new branches in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, I was thrilled to see the company flourish in new territories. I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to oversee the construction of those new facilities. I’m sure your new ventures in Chicago and Milwaukee will be equally successful.

As we prepare for my upcoming departure, I want you to know that I am willing to do anything I can to make the transition easier. I’ve been on the hiring committee for the last few candidates for my department, so I could help you interview prospective employees.

Since I have excellent working relationships with our suppliers all over the country, I would be happy to introduce them to my replacement. I’m sure whoever you select to fill my role will do an excellent job maintaining the relationships I’ve developed over the years.

In addition to sending my good wishes, I would also like to request that you process my 401(k) and pension at your earliest convenience. The funds will be very helpful when Dale and I begin our travels. We’ll be sure to send postcards!

With gratitude,
Beth Andrade