A handle assembly for a faucet includes a receiver defined by a handle body and having a vertically tapered side wall defining a receiving chamber, a slot extending through the tapered side wall into the receiving chamber, and a wire form retainer coupled around the receiver and being at least partially disposed within the slot for extending into the receiving chamber. A tapered valve stem includes a retaining recess, and wherein the tapered valve stem is received within the receiving chamber of the receiver so that at least a portion of the wire form retainer extends through the slot of the receiver and is received within the retaining recess of the tapered valve stem.