Willie Aames, former TV star, on his way back from financial ruin

What a jerk, takes the money and leaves his wife high and dry with only his debts. Did he pay the utility bills after he got cash...no, so his wife can not put utilities in her name because Willie did not pay those bills. The bills are so high so can not pay it. She works 3 jobs,Willie its questionable. He lives in a nice apt, she lives in a rented room. He is a lying lazy man that wants everyone to hand him everything on a silver platter. Financial advisor? What a joke, Waddell and Reed just got free advertising. Shame on them....but maybe got money from them too. College money?? His daughter still wants to go to college but doesn't have the money. I hope TV world stops paying this lazy dishonest man. I would love to see someone do a detailed expose and get to the truth. Everything was staged for that show.

I would have more sympathy for the guy if he wasn't an animal murderer. But speaking as someone who blew threw a quarter mil in just under 3 years and now lives on my mom's couch, I learned a lot from watching the show last night.

Watching this show, I couldn't help but shake my head in wonderment over the fact that someone actually voluntarily married this loser and procreated with him. I mean, he looks so surly and smelly, with the cigarettes and the Grizzly Adams thing going, and the horrible tattoos, ugghh! I just can't imagine his wife wanting that guy on top of her. And taking zero responsibility for anything - he gets a couple hundred bucks and goes out and gets another bad tattoo? Oy vey.

if you hire a financial adviser that has TWICE filed for bankruptcy you are more in need of a psychiatric adviser! won't Celebrity Fit Club hire him again?

Waddell & Reed should be investigated by FINRA for hiring an individual that has so many documented financial problems. Most legitimate firms (key word being legitimate) would never hire a person with such a questionable background. It makes one wonder about their management and who made the decision to hire Willie. It also makes me wonder about the other advisors they have on their payroll. If someone like this can get a job there, I guess if you can fog a mirror, you should be good to go. I for one would never invest with this company. Having worked in the industry, I know that the advisors they do have go there when no one else will take them.

I agree with the above post. Why would a supposedly legitimate financial services firm hire this guy. I believe in second chances and wish Willie well but I don't want him having the slightest chance of monitoring my money. I plan on calling my Waddell & Reed advisor on Monday and moving my account to a legitimate firm.

This show was a joke. He turned his life around in 7 days? I don't think so. I would love to know if he is still an "advisor" at Waddell and Reed a year from now and if he is, did he make it on his own or did that firm hand him everything for the free publicity. By the way, what moron at Waddell and Reed thought this was good press for the company?
I hope Willie really makes it and wish him well. Celebrity types that stay married for 25 years have something going for them. I also hope VH1 paid him for the show above the 25K because it is obvious these networks are struggling for the next great reality show. Hint: This ain't it.

I am a financial service professional that works in kansas city. I have friends that work at waddell & reed. Here is their reputation--great mutual fund company but terrible financial advisors. Their reps only sell proprietary products and have a limited product set.
They just got into the full service business this year and are recruiting much better talent from outside firms so that is a plus. Word is from my friends however that the decision makers there have no clue on anything other than funds. Most people there think the senior management there does not care about anything other than funds or they are just in over their heads when it comes to hiring their advisors.

I got my first signing bonus and invested them with a "friend" of mine who was an advisor at W&R. I bought their funds. After about a year, I started investing more money and wanted to buy individual stocks and my advisor was not allowed. He highly encourgaged Waddell & Reed funds. I said no. It was such a strong sales push on their proprietary products that I pulled my money and went to another firm. After seeing this show, I am glad I am not affiliated with them in any way.

Waddell & Reed must think like those people that think any press is good press!

I am rooting for Willie to make his life right and keep it up. Bad decisions lead to other bad decisions. I think if he can string together some good decisions, he might be a huge inspiration for a lot of people.

Willie is a fool. He gets a good 14.50 an hour job at an honest living and after he gets the 25,000 check he quits to go do the financial advisor thing?

Looks like Waddell & Reed is trying to get publicity off an old has been/never was.

give the man a chance unless you lived with him at the time it takes two....

Disgusted in Kansas City wrote:

What a jerk, takes the money and leaves his wife high and dry with only his debts. Did he pay the utility bills after he got cash...no, so his wife can not put utilities in her name because Willie did not pay those bills. The bills are so high so can not pay it. She works 3 jobs,Willie its questionable. He lives in a nice apt, she lives in a rented room. He is a lying lazy man that wants everyone to hand him everything on a silver platter. Financial advisor? What a joke, Waddell and Reed just got free advertising. Shame on them....but maybe got money from them too. College money?? His daughter still wants to go to college but doesn't have the money. I hope TV world stops paying this lazy dishonest man. I would love to see someone do a detailed expose and get to the truth. Everything was staged for that show.