Here's a follow-up to my November front-page story about Willie Aames, the "Charles In Charge"-"Eight Is Enough" actor who had hit the skids personally and financially when he agreed to do a VH1 special called "Broke and Famous" earlier this year.
As I reported, Aames had been hooked up with two mentors through Serano Kelley, a financial coach who was picked by VH1 to host "Broke and Famous," a pilot that became a one-off. (Well, strictly speaking, it was a test show that became a pilot that became a one-off. Now that's thrifty. If VH1 were in the meatpacking business, I'm pretty sure they'd figure out how to sell the squeal.)
Last month he passed his Series 66, the third and final exam required to become a financial advisor, and he took an office inside the Waddell & Reed headquarters in suburban Kansas City. He's surrounded by other advisors, of varying degrees of seniority, and of course his mentor Tom Butch, a top executive at W&R, is in the building.
Here's a press release W&R put out to announce Willie's first get-together for potential clients.
Willie Aames, licensed financial advisor,hosts event to launch new career
OVERLAND PARK, KS, December 22, 2009/– Marking the next phase in a transformation that has taken him from successful actor, through personal and professional challenges, and now to a new chapter as a financial advisor, Willie Aames will host an introductory event for prospective clients at Waddell &Reed headquarters on Jan. 20, 2010.
Aames, who over the last several months has passed three licensing exams and completed Waddell & Reed’s training program, is now building his financial planning practice locally. The evening event allows him to introduce himself to those who may consider his services for financial and investment planning.
Aames will give a presentation, which will be followed by a presentation by Thomas W. Butch, president of Waddell & Reed, Inc. An open question-and-answer session will follow. Those who wish to attend can call 913-599-9964 for more information.
“Willie has taken concrete steps to educate himself and dramatically turn his life around,” said Thomas W. Butch, president of Waddell & Reed, Inc. “Now he’s ready to put his training to work and build a planning practice. He is dedicated to helping people to understand the importance of financial planning and disciplined investing.”
Aames began his transformation nearly a year ago, when he was approached by the VH1 network to participate in a television show titled Broke and Famous, which aired in November. Over the course of the last year, he has worked with Butch, as well as with Waddell & Reed Regional Vice President Craig Kurth, Overland Park Managing Principal Rick Funke and District Manager Angela Robinson to channel his passion for financial planning into a viable career.
“Starting now, I’m beginning to build my own financial planning practice, working with a range of clients in the community,” said Aames. “My focus and emphasis is the Kansas City area and the people living here who need long-term financial guidance. I’m already under way, and thankful for the opportunity and the training that has led me to this point.”
About Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. provides financial planning services to clients throughout the United States through its network of more than 2,400 financial advisors. Waddell & Reed, Inc. also serves as principal underwriter and distributor to the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios, Inc. and InvestEd Portfolios, Inc. It is a subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR).
Earlier this year, Barron’s newspaper named Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds the fifth ranked fund family out of 59 fund families over the past year ending December 31, 2008, and the top ranked fund family out of 53 fund families over the latest 5-year period. Ivy Funds, an affiliated family distributed by Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc., ranked number nine, out of 59 fund families, over the past year, and number three, out of 53 fund families, over the latest 5-year period. Barron’s annually ranks mutual fund families according to asset-weighted returns in five categories. The recent rankings follow a #1 ranking for Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds over the one-year period in the 2007 Barron’s review. Barron’s ranked Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and Ivy Funds number 7 and 19, respectively, (out of 48 firms) for the 10-yr period ending December 31, 2008.
The Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and the Ivy Funds are offered through Waddell & Reed financial advisors, the company’s network of personal financial planners with offices around the country. The fund family offers a broad lineup covering all major asset categories, including international and domestic equity funds, specialty funds, fixed income funds and money market funds.Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a fund carefully before investing. For a prospectus containing this and other information for any of the Waddell & Reed Advisors or Ivy Funds, call your financial advisor or visit www.waddell.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
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