You’re waffling between “should I retire?” or “should I not retire?”
You mull over it long enough to finally get clarity on what you’re gonna retire to (you know, your passions, purpose, and ideal lifestyle).
And you decide — it’s time.
Except… how exactly do you make it a seamless transition?
Retiring from a job is one of the most monumental life changes.
And if you’ve been working at a job you love for many years, the process of retiring can be complicated and emotionally charged (and also kinda scary).
Not to worry — with the right guidance, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Here are some key tips on how to retire gracefully from your job and make the transition as smooth as possible.
#1 Plan in Advance
Even though nearly nine out of 10 people understand the importance of retirement planning, almost half (42%) of Americans still feel ill-equipped for retirement.
Retirement planning is no longer a suggestion but rather a necessity if you want to retire gracefully. After all, the last thing you want is to retire and find yourself in debt or unable to afford the lifestyle you’re accustomed to.
Prepare Financially
Financially speaking, planning ahead at least one year prior will allow you plenty of time to assess your budget, make adjustments as needed, decide which investments are best for your needs, and begin to fully understand where your retirement income will come from.
From filing taxes, setting up healthcare, and understanding social security income, you need to ensure your financial and legal affairs are handled before you take the plunge.
To make a budget that works with your post-retirement income, take an honest look at how much money you have coming in and going out each month, and then make adjustments as needed.
In case you’re curious, the typical American spends an average of $65,000 annually. And even after retirement, this figure doesn’t shift by much.
On the other hand, your income does change. And this might mean cutting down on expenses or adjusting your lifestyle to fit within the parameters of your new budget.
The goal here is to ensure that you can still enjoy life during retirement without having to worry about overspending. And our 6-accounts framework will make it easier than ever to stay on track.
But it is not just about the numbers — it’s about finding out what truly matters to you.
Prepare Mentally & Emotionally
If you’re like most people, finances aren’t the only thing to square away. There are also other (in our opinion, more important) topics to cover, like in our 5 Rings of Retirement framework.
With so much untapped potential for new experiences and re-evaluating your values, now is the time to really take a step back and explore all the ways retirement can shape your life.
For instance, here are our three comprehensive guides to help you get there and retire gracefully:
- 19 tips for living your best retired life
- The complete guide to a purposeful retirement
- 101 things to do in retirement
Regardless of where you start, finding clarity on the non-financial side of retirement is crucial if you want to retire gracefully.
That’s if you want to steer clear of retirement anxiety, anyway.
Or being among the 40% of older adults who experience loneliness and the 3.8% of older adults experiencing mental health issues.
By the way, our handy Retirement Checklist can help bring clarity and understanding to all areas retirement planning.
All in all, take the time and energy to thoroughly plan through a multi-faceted retirement.
Once you’re ready to make your retirement known, it’s time to tell your boss — our next tip.
#2 Gracefully Tell Your Boss You’re Retiring
Here’s how to tell your boss you’re retiring in three key steps.
Step #1 Decide When You’ll Tell Them
No one said retirement planning was easy — deciding when to retire is arguably the biggest hurdle. Studies show that 30% of pre-retirees have absolutely no plan for making this decision.
And, honestly, we don’t blame them.
But timing is key when it comes to telling your boss you’re retiring. You don’t want to leave them in the lurch with too little time to find a replacement. Nor do you want them to feel like your decision was sudden and unplanned.
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. How much notice you should give depends on factors like the size of your organization, how long you’ve been with the company, and your seniority level.
Generally, a good rule of thumb is to give your employer three to six months’ notice before you officially retire. This gives them enough time to find a suitable replacement for you and plan for your departure.
Step #2 Schedule a Meeting
Start with a face-to-face meeting with your boss. While you don’t have to give any details before the meeting, you should let them know it’s important.
Before you break the news to your manager, it’s important to give some thought to how you’ll handle the conversation and what you plan to say.
With statistics suggesting that more than half of Americans have supportive bosses, there’s a good chance your conversation will go well.
Even so, take some time to choose how you want to phrase your announcement – you don’t want any room for misinterpretation. Rehearsing can’t hurt.
And be prepared to answer questions. You don’t need to provide all the answers, but being open and honest about why you’re leaving is important.
Finally, be sure to thank them for the opportunity they provided you throughout your tenure at the company and express your appreciation for their guidance and support.
You, of course, don’t want to burn any bridges on your way out.
Step #3 Notify Your Employer in Writing
After the meeting, follow up with a formal letter or email outlining your retirement plan.
Writing a retirement letter is more than just a simple formality; it’s the first step in taking care of changes related to your salary, benefits, and insurance.
Your letter should address the right people, include your retirement date, a brief explanation of why you are retiring, and an expression of gratitude for all the opportunities they have provided you.
By writing down and communicating your retirement plan in writing, you can ensure that all parties involved are on the same page.
With the big announcement out in the open, it’s time to wrap up any work duties.
#3 Finish Up Assigned Projects
The time before retirement can often be a mission to check off all the boxes and complete ongoing projects.
It’s time to put on your cape and become the champion of productivity before your departure — you don’t want unfinished business lingering in the air after you’ve gone.
It’s worth taking the effort to finish what you started, tie up any loose ends, train your protege, delegate tasks if necessary, and document all processes before you go.
With most employers being concerned about retiring employees and the skills they take with them, doing a great job right up until the end is crucial to retiring with grace.
You’ll be leaving a legacy, so make sure it’s one worth remembering.
#4 Organize a Retirement Party
Retiring gracefully is something everyone should strive for, and throwing a retirement party is the perfect way to do it (P.S. here’s a list of retirement party ideas and a step-by-step guide to retirement party invitations to spark your imagination).
Getting together for one last hoorah provides an opportunity to reminisce about all the memories made throughout your career.
If there’s a retirement party (or two) thrown for you, embrace your role as guest of honor. Sometimes, this involves giving a retirement speech – so be prepared to end on a high note and thank everyone who’s supported you.
If you’re among the 75% of people with speech anxiety, try preparing with some of these speech tips:
- Keep it short — the average audience attention span is only 8-10 minutes
- Tell a story — information retention hops from 5-10% to 67% when there’s a story
- Be authentic and sincere, and express gratitude
You can also expect to listen to others giving you public accolades, as it’s also customary for coworkers, bosses, family, and friends to chime in and give speeches.
Whether you plan on having a backyard barbeque, an office potluck, or an all-out celebration, your retirement party will surely be memorable.
So break out the bubbly and get ready to celebrate.
#5 Build Your Support Network
Having someone in your corner to offer advice, lend an ear, and simply provide companionship can be invaluable. And this doesn’t have to disappear after you leave the workforce.
You probably created relationships and built a strong support system throughout your career. Whether it’s friends, family, or former colleagues, it can be helpful to keep these connections alive.
These people will be there for you to share your experiences, offer guidance and advice when needed, and provide emotional support during your retirement journey.
In fact, to reap the most benefits from social connectedness during your retirement transition, aim to:
- Connect with relationships that bring psychological support
- Make the most of existing ones
- Create new connections
But most importantly, try to connect with those who lift you up and encourage growth — people in your Circle of Influence.
And if you feel like you might need some extra help, our Rewire My Retirement program is here to guide you every step of the way.
The bottom line is that you don’t have to go through this alone.
Leave Your Job with Dignity & Class
You’ll likely always remember how you handle your retirement. Which is why it’s important to take the time to reflect on your career, develop a retirement plan, and let go with dignity and class.
And keep these five tips in mind when you’re ready to retire gracefully:
- #1 Plan (all areas) in advance — retirement planning can be a complicated process, so it’s best to start as early as possible (and cover the non-financial areas of retirement)
- #2 Tell your boss — decide when you’ll tell them, schedule a face-to-face meeting, notify them in writing
- #3 Finish up assigned projects — leaving with a good reputation is important, so try to finish up all assigned work before leaving
- #4 Organize a retirement party — this is a great way to say goodbye while also celebrating your accomplishments
- #5 Build your support network — make sure you have a reliable social circle to lean on during and after the transition
The key is to remember that retiring gracefully isn’t just about the finances – it’s also about being emotionally prepared for all the changes that come with retirement.
Happy retirement! 🎉 🥳
