A mix of light-hearted anecdotes and thoughtful observations is always a fitting tone for this capstone event.
If you are the main speaker, your tribute should include humor. How did the retiree interact with coworkers, the bosses, or those in subordinate positions? Such personal associations are often a source for good-natured fun. But you'll also want to include comments about the person's character, leadership style or contributions. A mix of light-hearted anecdotes and thoughtful observations is always a fitting tone for this capstone event.
If you are honoring the retiree, you'll want your speech to be entertaining and touching. Open your speech with something that will grab the attention of the audience. A quote, statistic or funny story about the honoree works well. And since retirement parties are walks down memory lane, most of your speech should include recollections of what the individual has meant to the workplace.
Aim for a 5 minute talk. That's long enough to do justice to the retiree and short enough to keep your audience from secretly reaching for their phones. The body of your talk should be a blend of stories and observations that paint a picture of the retiree and the role he or she has filled with the organization.
Put some thought into your conclusion. It may be funny or serious but be sure to mention how much the person has contributed or will be missed. If you’re a pro, you’ll end your talk with a conclusion that ties back to your opening remarks or an earlier story. Hard to do but that is always a winning formula.
For help with polishing your retirement speech, check out these tips from Toastmasters International.
(If you are retiring and will be making a speech, See When you are the retiree for a suggested speech outline.)
And in case your sensitivity monitor does not always work, remember that over-the-hill remarks or nursing home jokes that were hilarious at a 50th birthday party are not so amusing now. Most retirement parties include members of the family and some will probably be elderly. A safe option is to focus on the workplace and relationships there. Highlight some funny things that happened to the person while at work or earlier in his or her life.
If the person is healthy, active and looking forward to leaving work, it’s appropriate for the retirement speech to include some light remarks about a laid-back future enjoying hobbies. But if you’re not sure of the person’s situation, focus on their role with the company.
If the retiree is leaving the military, include some stories or sayings about military service that apply to the retiree and the branch of service.
There are a variety of retirement sayings or quotes you can use but be careful. In all cases, avoid those dire predictions about a toothless, drooling, declining future that, while intended to be funny, may embarrass others or make them uncomfortable.
The following sample honors Joe Smith who is retiring from Always There Insurance in Wilkesboro after working there for 15 years. You can adapt this formula and the tips for retirement wishes listed in the left-hand column to fit your honored guest. If you're stuck for ideas, incorporate some of the retirement sayings on this website.
If you are the main speaker, keep your remarks to around 5-7 minutes. (The average attention span of an audience is about 7 minutes.) If there are several speakers (besides the retiree), aim for no more than 4 minutes.
| | Statistics tells us that 10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day. And one of those retiring today is Joe Smith. We're sorry to say goodbye to Joe. But, every ending has a bright side when it also marks a new beginning. We're here to say a few words about his life at Always There and wish Joe well as he goes to that place in life we all look forward to . . . retirement. Thank you, friends and coworkers, for joining us . . . . Joe, you didn't know, did you, that so many people would be celebrating your departure! Before we get started, I'd like to take just a minute to introduce some special guests. . . . |
| | Seriously, Joe, … you've been an anchor in our marketing department for the past 15 years. He was one of the first ones in every day and would watch we Gen X’ers and Millenials come dragging in an hour after he’d finished his second cup of coffee. And he’d always have something cheerful to say before 8 a.m. Sometimes it was irritatingly cheerful for those of us who are night owls. He’s definitely not like those people who come in late but make up for it by leaving early. Joe was always here, greeting us with a wide grin. I asked him once why he was always so happy and Joe simply said, “You might as well smile because you’re here anyway and there’s no point in bringing anybody else down by complaining.” That comment says a lot about who Joe Smith is. His glass is always half full. And on those occasions when our marketing team's creativity had run wild and out of bounds, Joe knew how to gently guide us back in the fold while complimenting their ingenuity. One of the things people like most about Joe... besides his ability to smile all the time . . . is the fact that he can laugh at himself. And Joe has provided the rest of us with some laughs along the way. Remember that time when his team developed the campaign with the talking locks? That campaign had a memorable slogan: Joe’s bright idea to the idea was to show everybody how we were the one insurance company with the talking locks that could make every house safe. His pitch – – was a great success until it was abruptly ended. As you recall, that was the time the Wilkes police launched a raid on a prostitution ring that covered five states and was headquartered in a safe house in nearby Winston. Suddenly Joe’s idea of pitching Always There as the backer of the safe house didn’t fit the image the executive suite wanted. I think cracks about Joe's safe house went on for months. . . . And he laughed every time he heard it. Thanks, Joe, for being such a good sport. |
| | Looking back over Joe’s career here, we all have stories about him. Others will share some of those shortly. To Joe, I want to say how much we admire your dedication to your colleagues and this company. When Joe started working here, Always There was a small agency with just 6 employees but with a vision of customer service that would transform us into in this market. And Joe... you have been in our growth and prosperity. |
| It’s the people like Joe, who come into work with a smile, make our clients happy and understand that we always have to keep improving our service . . . those people like Joe are the ones who have made Always There Insurance the success it is today. It’s impossible to measure what Joe has meant to this company all these years. And I know I speak for everyone when I say this is a bittersweet moment . . . saying goodbye to a friend and coworker who has meant so much. But we are all happy that Joe and Laura will have time to kick back, get off this treadmill and do what they want. |
| | We’re now at the point in a retirement party when someone presents the retiree with a watch. But we don't have one and that's okay because Joe will no longer need a watch. What we do have are some more memories we’d like to share. It is obvious that you will be missed. We wish you and Laura all the best and like knowing that your smile will be even broader now that you don’t have to take that commute in every morning. And we know that if the Wilkes police ever break up another safe house, they can call you because you’ll know just what to say. |
| | Joe and Laura, would you please stand so we can say thanks. |
Retirement sayings - retirement wishes.
These retirement sayings - retirement wishes will help you write a retirement toast or speech.
Are you participating in a military retirement ceremony or celebration? If so, this collection of military retirement toasts will help you says something heartfelt and punchy.
Need some help with retirement party planning? Here are some tips to help you organize a fun gathering whether the party involves a dozen people or a hundred. The basic elements of planning a successful retirement party are the same.
If an educator you admire is departing, here are some teacher retirement toasts to help you express your appreciation.
Retirement celebrations Honoring a retiring co-worker Quotes about retirement Your retirement speech Make them glad they came Military retirement toasts Teacher retirement toasts Retiring teacher tribute Boomer retirement party Quotes about teaching P lanning the party Retirement roasts and song s Retirement songs and poems
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RTOERO CEO and award-winning communicator Jim Grieve has delivered hundreds of speeches through the years and has attended many retirement events. In this short video, he shares his best tips for giving an amazing retirement speech.
1. keep it short.
Keep the speech to 10 minutes or less. You don’t have to share your entire work history or give kudos to all your past colleagues individually. Not sure how long your speech is? Practice it in front of the mirror a few times and time yourself!
Remember your audience is at different ages and stages – some are younger, some at the end of their career like you. Try to offer something for everyone!
Consider sharing little mistakes you made and learned from and the names of coworkers who helped or inspired you. Be careful here to avoid jokes or stories that may be at the expense of another person.
Share the accomplishments you’re most proud of and the accomplishments of your team, organization, and leaders you worked with. The goal is to leave the people who are continuing with the great work feeling empowered.
To close out the speech, you can reflect on what you’ll miss most about working, but also what you’re most anticipating as you start retirement. And of course, thank everyone for coming to celebrate with you.
We hope these tips are helpful!
Preparing your retirement speech may be on your retirement planning checklist . If you’re getting started preparing for retirement, check out our free retirement planning workshop . You can attend as many times as you’d like!
Someone is retiring, and you want to write a tribute to honor the retiree and show your respect, gratitude, and appreciation. Well, no need to look further! In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about writing an unforgettable retirement tribute for a coworker, boss, friend, teacher, dad, mom, and family member.
The following steps will help you with your writing process, whether you’re planning to write a retirement tribute letter, email, or speech.
When writing an unforgettable retirement tribute , you need to have the correct information. The retiree retires once in life, so you want to nail it on the head with this one.
The first thing you want to do is collect information about the retiree. You need juice to have something to write about, right? Therefore, you may need to do some research and ask the retiree’s friends, coworkers, or family members to help you fill in the gaps. And I’ve made a list of information points that can be helpful to collect.
This list will help you along the way to find the content you need to start writing. You can possibly brainstorm ideas with other people and try to remember the most cherished moments, embarrassments, first day on the job, and other funny and serious stories and experiences you and others have with the retiree. The more personal it gets, the better it is.
I discovered the secret to a retirement celebration success: fun party games . And that is why I have created a printable Retirement Party Game Bundle with 10 amazing party games. You can share your wishes and advice with the retiree in a fun and memorable way.
The second step is crucial. To write a memorable tribute, you need to set a goal for what you want the retiree to feel after reading your words or hearing them. Because people will forget the exact words you said or wrote, they will never forget how you made them feel.
So before you put any words on paper, think about how you want the retiree to feel. Do you want to make them feel appreciated, loved, and celebrated? Do you want them to laugh? It is important to think about it for a second. Once you know your goal, you can start writing.
Also, to help you achieve this goal, it is always best to be as authentic as possible and write from the heart. You can instantly tell when it’s from the heart or not. And something from the heart is always unique and well-received. It gives the retiree an unforgettable feeling. Which is always the aim, right?
Don’t exaggerate. Let your relationship (whether close or not) and positivity shine through, and it will be a success.
The next step in writing a retirement tribute is to create an outline. It helps you organize your thoughts and allows you to finalize the topics and stories you want to share. The following framework can help you out:
1) Start with a greeting 2) Congratulate on retirement 3) Share positive characteristics and accomplishments of the retiree 4) Share examples of how the retiree made a difference 5) Share a personal (funny) story/ experience you have with the retiree 6) Share your gratitude and appreciation 7) Share what you’re going to miss most 8) Best wishes for the future 9) End with a polite closing 10) Give your contact details
It doesn’t have to be perfect yet. A rough outline with things you want to share and having examples to back it up is a great start.
With a rough outline on paper, it is time to start writing and finalize your words. And I always like to read other examples to better come up with my own words. And that is why I have an example below that can help you perfect yours. It is a basic but simple retirement tribute that you can upgrade or downsize to your own words. Don’t forget to add in some humor as well!
Dear (retiree’s name), Congratulation on your retirement! 40 years on the job. You are a true legend! Although I am very happy for you, I’m also sad to see you go. You have made an undeniable difference. Your positive energy and kindness are why many people and I loved working with you. You have truly made an impact and helped me in my personal and professional development. I loved working together on the successful but impossible project X, where I learned many valuable lessons from you about leadership and perseverance. I’m definitely making sure I pass these lessons on to my (future) coworkers. I also remember the many times we laughed during lunch break and the pranks we pulled on other coworkers. Knowing that, I wonder how is it possible that you’re still so loved? ! Thank you for bringing so much joy and dedication. I’m going to miss your energy and positivity at the office. It will not be the same here without you. I wish you the most fun, happiest and healthiest retirement ever. May all your bucket list dreams come true. Let’s stay in contact and share a coffee or beer to catch up once in a while. Best wishes and love for your family as well! ( Your Name) (321) 376-8213 [email protected]
When you’re looking for more funny, inspiring, or heartwarming wishes to add to your retirement tribute, I can recommend reading my article: 100 Unique Best-Wishes For Retirement .
Make sure to proofread it and check for any spelling, grammar, or other mistakes. A message free of errors shows your professionalism and attention to detail. It shows that you care.
And the final step to writing the best retirement tribute is to ask for feedback. You can ask a co-worker, friend, or family to give you feedback. Or ask them to help practice your retirement tribute speech. It is best to ask a trusted person that you know that will give you honest feedback. Therefore you need to be open to a little (or a lot) of criticism. But that all help you to perfect your retirement tribute.
After you received their feedback and suggestions, you can do the last corrections. And then the next step is to send it out or host your speech.
Now that wasn’t all that difficult right?
When you’re planning to give a speech I recommend reading my article: How To Give The Best Retirement Speech | 18 Helpful Tips
And if you’re looking for a great retirement gift, check out my Top 5 Best Retirement Gifts
Kirsten Veldman
Since 2017, my husband and I have been location-independent retirees. With hundreds of articles written, I'm passionate about helping other retirees!
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Published on June 28, 2024
By: Maurie Backman
Wouldn't it be great if there were some sort of magic number that guaranteed financial security throughout retirement? That way, we'd all know exactly how much to save, and from there, we'd get peace of mind.
Also, while $1.46 million may be more than what some people need to live a nice lifestyle in retirement, for others, it may not be enough. So rather than rely on a single number like that, you may want to use Fidelity's rule for retirement planning. The financial giant says you should aim to have 10-times your final salary socked away in an IRA or 401(k) by the age of 67, which is when people born in 1960 or later can claim their Social Security benefits in full.
What's great about Fidelity's advice is that it's based on individual earnings. If your ending salary is $70,000, you're aiming for a $700,000 nest egg, which may be what you need based on the paycheck you're used to collecting. If your final salary is $150,000, then you're aiming for $1.5 million -- though you might not need quite that much, depending on your lifestyle.
Either way, though, the idea of accumulating 10-times your salary might seem challenging. But with the right strategy, you may be surprised at how easy it is to hit that goal.
Retiring with 10-times your salary could boil down to simply giving yourself a long savings window and investing heavily in stocks.
If you wait until your 40s or 50s to start contributing toward retirement, you may not get to that goal -- or you might have to part with a lot of money each month to get there. And if you choose safer investments than stocks, your money may not grow at a fast enough pace to get you to your goal.
But if you begin funding an IRA or 401(k) in your 20s and you invest the bulk of your savings in stocks from the start, you might easily end up with 10-times your salary by age 67. And you might also get there without having to give up a large chunk of your paycheck every month.
Over the past 50 years, the stock market's average annual return has been 10%. So let's say you contribute $100 a month to a retirement plan between ages 25 and 67 for a total of 42 years. If you're able to score a 10% yearly return in your portfolio during that time, you're looking at a total of about $645,000.
Meanwhile, a typical annual wage for someone aged 67 is about $55,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If we apply Fidelity's rule, that means our savings target would be $550,000. Here, you're getting to almost $100,000 more on just $100 a month.
Fidelity's rule of thumb is a good one to follow if you want some guidance on setting a retirement savings goal. But you can also adjust that guidance based on your needs and objectives.
If you want your retirement to be filled with travel, you may decide you should aim to save 12- or 13- times your salary. If you intend to downsize your home and live frugally, then eight-times your final salary may be more than enough.
It could pay to sit down with a financial advisor and have them help you establish a savings goal that's truly unique to you. This could make it so you're not putting undue pressure on yourself to oversave, but you're also less likely to wind up with an income shortfall on your hands.
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Maurie Backman is a personal finance writer covering topics ranging from Social Security to credit cards to mortgages. She also has an editing background and has hosted personal finance podcasts.
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Tips for Writing a Retirement Speech. Crafting a retirement speech is an art that can seem daunting. After all, you have to encapsulate decades of memories, achievements, and emotions into a few minutes. Thankfully, with the right approach and a sprinkle of creativity, you can pen a speech that's both memorable and moving.
Organizing notes and structuring the speech effectively. Organize your notes and structure the speech effectively to ensure a smooth and coherent delivery. Start with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention and establishes a connection. Arrange your thoughts logically, transitioning smoothly from one point to the next.
1. Prepare A Skit. Adding a skit is an excellent way of making a retirement speech memorable. The theme for the skit can be anything. However, make sure it's relevant to the retiring person's life. A good idea is to structure the skit around some memorable incident from the person's time at the workplace.
If you feel anxious about delivering a speech in front of people, your throat might tighten up. A cup of water by your side allows you to take a moment, clear your throat, and continue with the speech. Additionally, it's a good idea to have tissues or a handkerchief nearby in case you tear up.
Retirement Speech Writing Steps. Follow these six steps to creating a retirement speech. Step 1: Gather information. The first step to creating a retirement speech is to gather information about the person's life from different people. Hopefully, you can get extraordinary stories from them and a core idea of what you will put in the speech.
2. Short Retirement Speech. Many retirement speeches happen in spaces where we need to be brief, such as a Zoom meeting or other virtual space. A short retirement speech will allow you to be concise and still convey your message. It can also make for an excellent written piece for a retirement card or email greeting. Example Short Retirement ...
Share anecdotes and memories of working together, and express gratitude for their service. Finally, conclude with well wishes for the retiree's future endeavors, and offer a sincere thanks on behalf of everyone present for their years of service. When writing a retirement speech, it is important to have stories about the retiree.
Key Themes to Include in a Retirement Speech. Think of your retirement speech as the capstone to a grand building you've been constructing over years of hard work. Let's dig into some themes that suit such a momentous occasion. Celebrating Milestones and Achievements. The meat and potatoes of any good retirement speech are the milestones.
Some people get carried away and use unprofessional jokes and personal stories that make others feel uncomfortable. Others prepare thoroughly, but their speech lacks warmth and emotion. Here's how to compose a speech that will sound professional, appropriate, and sincere. ... Hire an expert to write a retirement speech with a 20% discount today ...
6. Speak From The Heart. Let your genuine emotions shine through to make your speech authentic and engaging. Show your appreciation and admiration for everyone celebrating with you and express yourself properly and appropriately in response to their heartfelt congratulations and well-wishes. 7.
1. Plan Ahead. Before diving into your farewell retirement speech, ensure you have ample time to plan and prepare. Create a rough outline beforehand, jotting down key points you want to cover. Some crucial points you may want to prioritize in your draft outline: The beginning: Reflect on your early days in the company.
Retirement speech example 2 - a heartfelt one. Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to thank you all for being here today to celebrate my retirement. It has been an incredible journey, and I have had the pleasure of working with so many amazing people over the years.
However, crafting the perfect speech can be a daunting task. In this guide, we will explore the key steps to writing a unforgettable retirement speech. Understanding the Purpose of a Retirement Speech. Before diving into the specifics of constructing a retirement speech, it is essential to understand its purpose.
Craft A Retirement Speech: Guide For Honoring A Retiree. If you're not the retiree but wish to deliver a memorable retirement speech for one, here's a structured outline to help you along: 1. Introduce The Retiree. Begin your speech by introducing the retiree and shining a light on their remarkable career journey.
Focus on The Purpose of Your Retirement Speech. Start with Rule #1: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget howyou made them feel.". - Maya Angelou. If you keep that top of mind, you'll do well.
5. Include Humor. Retirement speeches can be serious. Humor can help to lighten the mood, ease any tension, and engage the audience. It also shows your personality and helps you connect with your audience in a more relaxed and personal way. However, it is important to strike a balance between humor and sincerity.
Give yourself a time limit. Before you begin set yourself a time limit - say 30 minutes. Then use the retirement speech starter headlines and the content suggestions * next to each one to kick start your creative juices. Put down as much as you can under each heading. Do NOT self edit. Nothing is too trivial!
This guide will help you write a retirement speech for yourself or for someone else that is retiring. The principles of both speeches are the same: Honor the person, and honor the event ...
If you're responsible for delivering a speech at a retirement party, try to follow these steps for how to write a retirement speech: 1. Gather information. To begin your speech writing process, research the retiree. Consult with your colleagues and human resources department to find information such as: the proper pronunciation of their name.
Joe and Laura, would you please stand so we can say thanks. (Lead others in applause.) Retirement celebrations. P. If you have to talk at a retirement party, here's a sample retirement speech honoring a co-worker plus some guidelines to help you organize what you will say to honor the retiree and entertain your audience.
Try to offer something for everyone! 3. Acknowledge the helpers and learning. Consider sharing little mistakes you made and learned from and the names of coworkers who helped or inspired you. Be careful here to avoid jokes or stories that may be at the expense of another person. 4. Talk about accomplishments.
The following framework can help you out: 1) Start with a greeting. 2) Congratulate on retirement. 3) Share positive characteristics and accomplishments of the retiree. 4) Share examples of how the retiree made a difference. 5) Share a personal (funny) story/ experience you have with the retiree.
Need to write a roast speech for somebody's retirement party? We've got you covered. Learn how to write a side-splitting speech that still sounds fond here.
A retirement letter serves as an official declaration of your departure from a job, giving your employer ample time to find a replacement or allocate your duties elsewhere. This strategy ensures a ...
So let's say you contribute $100 a month to a retirement plan between ages 25 and 67 for a total of 42 years. If you're able to score a 10% yearly return in your portfolio during that time, you're ...