How to write a retirement letter

Last updated 22^nd February 2024 by the SunLife Content Team
6 min read

Writing a retirement letter is a big step for anyone. You’ve looked at your options, made plans, and saved money away. Now you’ve decided that the time is right to start enjoying your new life as a retiree.

But how do you go about writing and sending a retirement letter? And which formalities do you need to think about? This guide explains how to write a retirement letter and the process of handing it in.

Below, you’ll also find a handy retirement letter template and an example to inspire you when you write your own.

What is a retirement letter?

Your retirement letter is a way to announce your plans to retire. You might have spoken to colleagues and even your manager about your retirement, but you still need to resign formally.

In many ways, a retirement letter is just a type of resignation letter. The key difference is that you won’t just be stating your plan to resign – you’ll also be requesting to start receiving your retirement benefits package.

This is a formal statement of your plans to retire, so your retirement notice should be written out as an actual letter (not just an email!)

How do you submit a retirement letter?

Before handing in your letter, you may want to let your employer know of your plans. This might mean having an informal chat with them. Or, if there are any details to talk about like your notice period or specific benefits, you could plan a meeting.

Once you’ve had the go-ahead from your employer or HR team, you can hand in your retirement notice. Your employer should then keep the retirement letter on file with your contract and other employee records.

You might want to follow up with an email to let your employer know that you’ve sent your notice. This means your manager will know your retirement letter is on its way. And they will have a chance to confirm that they’ve received it.

Tips for writing a retirement letter

When writing a retirement letter, most people want to make sure that they end their career on a positive note. This is a chance to tie up loose ends, say thank you, and leave your employer with a good impression of you.

Include the important details

Your retirement letter doesn’t have to be long – a few short paragraphs is enough. That said, you’ll want to include the following details:

• Your current job title
• The name of the company
• Your manager's name and position in the company
• Your notice period
• The last day you plan to work

Address your retirement letter to the right people

Be sure to address your retirement letter to the right people. You should send your retirement notice to your most immediate manager or supervisor. It’s also a good idea to leave a copy with HR.

Show your appreciation

A retirement notice is your chance to say thank you for the experiences you’ve had at your company. Many people use their retirement letters to show thanks for the support and opportunities they’ve been given over the years.

Offer to help with the transition

No matter their job role, an employee resigning will always create some disruption in a business. But, you can reduce this by offering to help with the transition.

The help you can provide will depend on what your job was. You could offer to do things like create clear handover documents, teach your next-in-line, and give bits of ad-hoc support if they run into any issues down the line.

Ask for clarity on your retirement benefits

If you’re not sure about what you get with your retirement benefits package, now is the time to ask! This could relate to a company pension scheme, ongoing access to resources, or another type of benefit. Being clear about what you’re eligible for will give you peace of mind.

Leave contact details so you can stay in touch

One of the keys to a happy retirement is keeping up an active social life. You may want to keep in touch with some of the people you used to work with. Giving them contact details like your personal phone number and email address is a great start.

Let them know if you can provide ongoing support

Depending on your job, you may have a chance to provide ongoing support to your former company as a freelancer or consultant once you’ve retired. This means you could earn a little extra money for your retirement. If you’re interested, say so in your retirement letter to make sure you’re considered for this type of work.

---

Next Steps

Hopefully this guide on how to write a retirement letter has helped you get to grips with putting your own notice together. If you’ve found this post helpful, you may want to continue reading:

• How to have a happy retirement
• Turning your pension into an income
• How to make money in retirement

SunLife offers a range of services that might be of use to you as you approach retirement and beyond, including:

• Over 50s life insurance
• Guaranteed Inheritance Plan
• Equity release