There are plenty of television shows that offer financial advice for consumers, such as Till Debt Do Us Part (Slice) and Money Talk (BNN). Financial advisors have had to look a little harder, but lessons about our industry have been presented on the tube from time to time as well. You just have to know where to look.

These shows that follow the ups and downs of investing also offer valuable lessons for advisors:

> Traders (1996 – 2000)
The most obvious television show for financial advisors is no longer with us. Traders, a Canadian drama, followed the lives of financial movers and shakers at fictitious Bay St. investment firm Gardner Ross.

On this series, it’s not only the markets that are volatile. Storylines included embezzlement charges, hostile takeovers, malicious betrayals and even a couple of murders. Nothing like real life on The Street.

Advisor Tip: Find a firm that’s the right fit for you.

> Dragon’s Den (2006 – present)
In this reality series, up-and-coming Canadian entrepreneurs pitch their business plans to five successful venture capitalists in the hopes they will walk away with enough cash to take their businesses further.

Some ideas, like an online notes-sharing service for university students, show Facebook-like promise. Many, however, verge on the insane. Most entrepreneurs have over-valued their businesses in the opinion of the panelists.

The series’ sixth season starts this autumn with a new “dragon,” Lavalife co-founder Bruce Croxon, joining veterans Arlene Dickinson, Kevin O’Leary, Jim Treliving and Robert Herjavec.

Advisor Tip: Always do research before investing.

> Damages – Season 3 (2010)
In this award-winning legal drama, Ellen Parsons, a recent law school graduate, learns the ropes of the U.S. legal system while working with successful but difficult New York City litigator Patricia Hewes.

Season 3 has a strong financial storyline. While Parsons works with the district attorney’s office on a drug case, Hewes helps investors recover funds they invested with a Bernie Madoff-like fraudster who was running a Ponzi scheme.

Advisor Tip: Bad service can come back to haunt you.

IE