Working From the Comforts of Home

How he landed the job: He signed up with a job search site. “The hardest part was narrowing my search to what I wanted to do,” Ratzlaff says.

The money: Ratzlaff earns roughly $16,000 annually.

Jeff Minton

Insurance Rater Breaks Out of Comfort Zone

Norma Oquendo was 62 when her prior employer closed its doors. “I wasn’t ready to stop working,” she says. “I still had a lot left in me to contribute, and Social Security doesn’t pay my mortgage.”

What she does: Oquendo, 69, provides insurance-rate quotes to insurance agents who work with businesses such as convenience stores and hotels. The agents send her applications, which she checks for missing information. After an insurer quotes a price for coverage, she finds out whether the customer wants to proceed. 

What she likes: New software for her work is continually rolling out, and Oquendo enjoys learning how to use it. “You can’t be stuck in old ways of doing things,” she says.

The challenges: “I miss the interaction with coworkers,” Oquendo says. “No paid vacations is a concern. And if you do take a vacation, who is going to do the work you’ve been doing?”

How she landed the job: Suspecting age discrimination in her traditional job hunt, she sought out an age-blind job with Work at Home Vintage Experts (WAHVE). “They valued my experience,” she says.

The money: Oquendo, who works 35 hours a week, makes $17 an hour.

Jeff Minton

Online High School English Teacher

Diana Hood, 60, retired in 2013 after 33 years as an English teacher and school librarian in Texas. Nearly a year later, she set up shop in her daughter’s old bedroom. 

What she does: Hood teaches English literature to 200 seniors in public high schools across Texas who, for one reason or another, are studying at home and not attending a local school. Her work involves a virtual class, tutoring sessions, and constant communication with students via email and phone calls.

What she likes: “I can talk to kids one-on-one without worrying about kids going nuts behind me,” Hood says. 

The challenge: The physical distance, in some cases. “I can’t say, ‘Sit in that desk and finish that.’ You have to rethink how you motivate kids.”

The money: Around $50,000 for a 10-month school year, which is on par with the surrounding school districts.

Insurance Account Manager Gains Family Time

Leslie Bailey-Clarke, 53, started working in the insurance business right out of college in 1987. After stints in customer service, sales and management, she’s now working out of a guest room turned office in her home. “I wanted to spend more time with my teenage daughter,” she says.

What she does: An independent contractor and licensed insurance agent, Bailey-Clarke works with her client’s existing customers — providing proof of insurance on their behalf and renewing their existing contracts. She welcomes the solitude after the seven years she spent working as a branch manager. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the quiet,” she says. “I usually have some classical jazz music playing quietly. It is a very restful, peaceful day for me.”

What she likes: The flexibility. “I’m here for my daughter, to go to her basketball games.” 

The challenge: It’s a part-time job with no overtime, so that limits how much Bailey-Clarke can make. 

How she landed the job: “I discovered Work at Home Vintage Experts through an online search. It was a rigorous vetting process, but worth it. Once I was accepted in their database, they matched me with a job that offered the hours I want.” 

The money: Bailey-Clarke works around 30 hours a week for $20. She also spends several hours a week giving voice and piano lessons to aspiring actors, actresses, public speakers and performers.

Jeff Minton

Online English Teacher Connects One-on-One

Diana Hood, 60, retired in 2013 after 33 years as an English teacher and school librarian in Texas. Nearly a year later, she set up shop in her daughter’s old bedroom. 

What she does: Hood teaches English literature to 200 seniors in public high schools across Texas who, for one reason or another, are studying at home and not attending a local school. Her work involves a virtual class, tutoring sessions, and constant communication with students via email and phone calls.

What she likes: “I can talk to kids one-on-one without worrying about kids going nuts behind me,” Hood says. 

The challenge: The physical distance, in some cases. “I can’t say, ‘Sit in that desk and finish that.’ You have to rethink how you motivate kids.”

The money: Around $50,000 for a 10-month school year, which is on par with the surrounding school districts.