Actor Willie Aames has become a financial planner despite filing for personal bankruptcy twice.

Willie Aames

Aames, who starred in the TV series “Eight Is Enough” and “Charles in Charge,” and the movies “Paradise” and “Zapped,” recently appeared on the VH1 reality TV show “Broke and Famous: Willie Aames” to discuss his own financial troubles.

Aames described how he was left homeless and had to sleep under bushes and in parking garages after his wife and daughter left him. Aames later reunited with his daughter and studied to become a financial planner. He has passed three licensing exams and a training program given by the Overland Park, Kan.-based financial advisory firm Waddell & Reed.

"He’s gone through an internal training program over the span of the last eight to 12 months," said Waddell & Reed spokesman Roger Hoadley. "He’s passed his Series 7, he’s passed his Series 6, he’s passed his health and life examination. He was just activated at the beginning of this month. He is now trying to build his own financial planning practice."

Aames will be at a kickoff event at Waddell & Reed on Jan. 20, according to a report by local station KCTV.