What to Say in a Retirement Card: 48 Messages, Tips, & Examples

 

What Is a Retirement Card?

A retirement card is a thoughtful way to celebrate and honor someone who is transitioning from their professional career to retirement life. It’s more than just a piece of paper with a few words scribbled on it—it’s a keepsake that captures your appreciation, well-wishes, and shared memories.

Retirement cards are often given during a retirement party, making the occasion even more special and memorable.

Retirement cards typically include messages that acknowledge the retiree’s hard work, dedication, and the positive impact they’ve had throughout their career.

They can be funny, heartfelt, or a mix of both—it all depends with your relationship with the person and the tone you want to set.

 

What to Say in a Retirement Card

There are good, better, and best ways to write a retirement card. It’s more than just a retirement wish for someone to do well—it’s about making them feel truly valued and appreciated.

Here’s what to write in a retirement card to send the right message and leave a lasting impression.

Acknowledge Their Achievements: Highlight their contributions and the impact they’ve had on the organization.

• “Your dedication and hard work have truly made a difference here.”

Express Gratitude: Show appreciation for their years of service and the positive influence they’ve had.

• “Thank you for your unwavering commitment and all the wisdom you’ve shared with us.”

Consider including a retirement gift as a token of appreciation.

Wish Them Well: Offer sincere good wishes for their retirement journey.

• “Wishing you a retirement filled with joy, relaxation, and new adventures.”

Share a Personal Memory or Anecdote: Personalize your message with a memorable moment or inside joke.

• “I’ll always remember the time we tackled that big project together. Your leadership was inspiring.”

Encourage Future Pursuits: Inspire them to pursue hobbies, travel, or new experiences.

• “May you finally have the time to explore all those places you’ve dreamed about.”

Keep It Positive: Maintain a positive and uplifting tone.

• “Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone!”

 

What Not to Say in a Retirement Card

Writing a retirement card can be tricky—there are right and wrong ways to go about it. Some things are best left unsaid to guarantee your message is both appropriate and uplifting.

Negative Comments About Work: Avoid bringing up any work-related grievances or negative experiences.

• "Now you don’t have to deal with all the office politics anymore."

Age-Related Remarks: Steer clear of jokes or comments about age or getting old.

• "You’re finally old enough to retire!"

Anything Too Personal or Sensitive: Respect their privacy and avoid overly personal remarks.

• "Hope you can finally spend more time with your family now that you’re free."

Implying Boredom: Avoid suggesting that retirement might be dull or uneventful.

• "What are you going to do with all that free time?"

Uncertain Future: Don’t bring up concerns about their future or health.

• "Hope you can keep busy now that you’re retired."

 

48 Retirement Card Messages Examples

Finding the right words for your retirement card can be downright daunting. You want your personal message to be heartfelt, memorable, and appropriate for the relationship you share with the retiree.

These messages can also be used for a retirement announcement to make the occasion even more special.

Whether you’re writing to a boss, retiring colleague, friend, or family member, the right words can make a lasting impact.

And we can help.

Below, we’ve curated a collection of retirement card examples tailored to different work relationships. Find the category that matches your use case to see practical examples you can personalize for your own message.

 

Retirement Messages to Your Boss

Writing a retirement message to your boss can feel a bit tricky—you want to be respectful but also convey your genuine appreciation and best wishes. Another way to convey these messages is through a retirement letter, which can provide a more formal and detailed expression of your sentiments.

Here are a few examples to help you strike the right balance:

1. “Congrats on your retirement! It’s been amazing working under your guidance. Enjoy every moment of your well-deserved break!”
2. “Happy retirement! Your leadership and support have meant the world to me. Here’s to a future filled with relaxation and adventure.”
3. “Best wishes as you retire! Your wisdom and kindness have made a big impact on all of us. Enjoy this next chapter to the fullest.”
4. “Happy retirement! Thanks for being such an inspiring leader and mentor. May your retirement be filled with all the things you love.”
5. “Congratulations on reaching this milestone! Your guidance has been invaluable. Wishing you lots of joy and relaxation, whatever lies ahead.”
6. “Enjoy your retirement! You’ve been an amazing boss and mentor. Here’s to new adventures and endless relaxation.”
7. “Wishing you all the best in your retirement! Your dedication and leadership will be greatly missed. Have a wonderful life ahead!”
8. “Happy retirement! Your support and leadership have been incredible. May your retirement be just as amazing as your career has been.”
9. “Congrats on your retirement! Your hard work and dedication have been truly inspiring. Wishing you a joyful and fulfilling retirement.”
10. “Best wishes for a fantastic retirement! Your leadership has shaped our team in so many positive ways. Enjoy every moment of your new journey.”
11. “Happy retirement! Thanks for being a great boss and for all the guidance. May your days be filled with relaxation and happiness.”
12. “Wishing you a wonderful retirement! Your impact on the team has been tremendous. Enjoy this well-earned time to yourself.”
13. “Congrats on retiring! Your wisdom and leadership will be missed. Hope your retirement is everything you’ve dreamed of.”
14. “Happy retirement! It’s been an honor working with you. Thank you for all your support and guidance. Enjoy this new chapter!”
15. “Best wishes on your retirement! Your dedication and leadership have been inspiring. May your retirement be as rewarding as your career.”

 

Retirement Messages to Your Direct Report

Writing a retirement message to your direct report is an excellent opportunity to show appreciation for their hard work, celebrate their accomplishments, and wish them well. Whether it's a formal retirement announcement or a personal note, these messages can convey your heartfelt sentiments.

 

Here are a few different ways you can approach it:

1. “Congratulations on your retirement, [Name]! It’s been a pleasure working with you these past [number] years. Your dedication, expertise, and positive attitude have been invaluable to the team. We’ll miss you, and we wish you all the best in this exciting new chapter!”
2. “[Name], your contributions to the team have been truly remarkable. From [mention specific achievement] to [mention another achievement], you’ve consistently impressed with your skills and work ethic. We’re grateful for your impact, and we wish you a happy and fulfilling retirement!”
3. “[Name], congratulations on finally escaping the clutches of work (us)! We’ll definitely miss your [positive personality trait] and [another positive personality trait], but we know you’re off to bigger and better things. Enjoy your retirement!”
4. “[Name], it’s been a privilege working with you and learning from your experience. Your guidance and mentorship have been instrumental in my professional growth. Thank you for everything, and enjoy a wonderful retirement!”
5. “From the entire team, a heartfelt congratulations on your retirement, [Name]! You’ve been a fantastic colleague and a true asset to our team. We’ve learned so much from you, and we’ll miss your presence around here. Wishing you a happy and healthy retirement!”
6. “[Name], you’ve always struck a perfect balance between work and personal life. Now, it’s time to focus on the latter! Congratulations on your retirement. We wish you a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment.”
7. “As John Lennon said, ‘Life begins at forty.’ Well, retirement is kind of like life beginning again at [retirement age]! Congratulations, [Name], and enjoy every moment of this new chapter.”

Retirement Messages for Colleagues

Sometimes, it’ll be a former colleague or coworker from another team retiring. A thoughtful gesture to accompany the message could be a retirement gift.

You may or may not have worked closely with them, but regardless, here are some messages you could send:

1. “Congratulations on your retirement, [Name]! It’s been a pleasure working alongside you these past [number] years. Your positive attitude and collaborative spirit will be truly missed. Wishing you all the best in your well-deserved retirement!”
2. “[Name], the office won’t be the same without your friendly presence and our [shared activity/inside joke]! Congratulations on your retirement. Here’s to many more adventures and shared stories in the years to come.”
3. “[Name], congratulations on your retirement! We’ll definitely miss your [positive personality trait] and the fun conversations around the water cooler. Enjoy your well-deserved freedom!”
4. “Congratulations on your retirement, [Name]! While we won’t see you around the office every day, I hope we can stay in touch. Let’s grab coffee or lunch sometime soon! Wishing you all the best.”
5. “Congratulations on your retirement, [Name]! We’re sad to see you go, but also secretly envious of your newfound freedom. Enjoy your well-deserved break, and don’t forget about us! (Just kidding…mostly.)”

Retirement Messages for Friends

A time will come when one of your friends retires, and then another, and another. When that time comes, you’ll be writing these messages on the regular—here are some ideas for mixing it up while keeping it personal.

These messages are perfect for any retirement celebration:

1. “Hey [Friend’s Name], so I hear you’re graduating from the school of hard knocks (aka work) to the college of FUN! Congratulations on your retirement! Can’t wait to hear about all your adventures (and maybe snag some travel tips).”
2. “Remember all those times we said, ‘Can’t wait to retire!’? Well, guess who gets to live the dream now? Congrats on winning the retirement race, [Friend’s Name]! Here’s to new chapters, old friendships, and making some fond memories together.”
3. “Dear [Friend’s Name], Congratulations on your retirement! I’m so incredibly proud of all you’ve accomplished in your career. Now it’s time to relax, recharge, and do all the things you love. Wishing you a happy and fulfilling retirement filled with joy and good health.”
4. “Retirement looks amazing on you, [Friend’s Name]! Wishing you all the best in this exciting new chapter!”
5. “Congrats on your retirement, [Friend’s Name]! Now you finally have all the time in the world to [mention a funny hobby or dream they have]. Don’t forget to send me pictures (or postcards, if you’re feeling fancy)!“

Retirement Messages for Leadership

Your executive leadership team or original founders will eventually leave the business, and if they do at retirement age, you have the privilege of sending them off on the right foot. A retirement letter is another way to convey these messages.

Here are some ideas to do that the right way:

1. “Congratulations on your retirement, [Leader’s Name]! Your leadership, vision, and dedication have left a lasting impact on this company. We are all forever grateful for your contributions and wish you a happy and fulfilling retirement!”
2. “Congratulations on your retirement, [Leader’s Name]! While you’ll be stepping down from your official role, we know you’ll always be a valuable resource. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can ever be of assistance.”
3. “We’ll miss your leadership, [Leader’s Name] (but maybe not those early morning meetings!). Congratulations on your retirement! Enjoy your well-deserved freedom, and don’t forget about us!”
4. “[Leader’s Name], your strategic vision and decisive leadership have guided us through challenging times and propelled us to new heights. Congratulations on your retirement and continued success in your future endeavors!”

Funny Retirement Wishes

Sometimes, funny retirement wishes will hit the sweet spot in your card. These messages are perfect for sharing at a retirement party to bring a smile to everyone's face.

When that’s the case, use these funny retirement wishes for inspiration:

1. “Congrats on your retirement! It’s like a permanent vacation, except you don’t have to come back and pretend to work.”
2. “Wishing you all the best in your retirement! Just remember, every day is Saturday now, except Sunday, which is still Sunday.”
3. “Happy retirement! No more deadlines, no more meetings, and best of all, no more annoying coworkers (except us, of course)!”
4. “Best wishes for a fantastic retirement! May your days be filled with joy, relaxation, and not a single work-related email.”
5. “Happy retirement! Time to say goodbye to your boss and hello to your new boss: your spouse!”
6. “Wishing you a wonderful retirement—you’re lucky we didn’t make you give a retirement speech. May your to-do list be short and your nap times be long.”
7. “Congrats on retiring! Now you can finally throw away your alarm clock. Trust me, you won’t miss it.”
8. “Wishing you a retirement full of good books, good wine, and no responsibilities. You’ve earned it!”
9. “Congrats on your retirement! Now you can stay up late and not feel guilty about it. Enjoy the freedom!”
10. “Happy early retirement! You’re officially done with ‘working hard’ and moving on to ‘hardly working’.”
11. “Congrats on your retirement! Your only deadlines now are golf tee times and happy hours.”
12. “Best retirement wishes! May your days be filled with laughter, joy, and zero spreadsheets.”

Create a Comprehensive Recognition Program with Terryberry

Learning what to say in a retirement card is the first step in recognizing the successful career of an employee, but it's just the beginning.

You have plenty of other milestones to celebrate in the workplace, from the first day on the job to five years with your company.

Schedule a demo with our team to learn more about our solutions and how we can help you create an impactful recognition program.