Kiplinger's Retirement Report - February 2006 

Dish Out 1-800-HELP from Your Home

"Aida Spradlin, 54, of Weston, Fla., joined the swelling ranks of 'cyber agents' four years ago and is delighted with her decision.

"After accepting an early retirement buyout from AT&T, she was looking for part-time work she could do from home. She found the ideal job with WillowCSN, a Florida-based company that is a pioneer in staffing virtual call centers. It has about 3,000 homebased agents all over the U.S., providing call-center help for...Fortune 500 companies.

"Currently, about 15 percent of Willow's cyber agents are retirees, and chief executive officer Angie Selden says the company is looking to hire more of this desirable group with its strong work ethic, business experience and computer skills.

"'We have launched a national recruiting program, and the retirement community is one that we find very attractive,' says Selden."