Financial planner George Papadopoulos woke up today with a lot of new messages. A LOT.
The Michigan-based CFP shares the same name with the former foreign policy advisor to the campaign of President Trump, who pleaded guilty Monday to lying to the FBI as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election.
“For the nth time, I am NOT Trump's foreign policy adviser!” tweeted Papadopoulos, who uses the handle @feeonlyplanner. “I have NO association with the Trump camp! NONE!”
For the nth time, I am NOT Trump's foreign policy adviser! I have NO association with the Trump camp! NONE!
— George Papadopoulos (@feeonlyplanner)
October 30, 2017
Papadopoulos the planner (he's also a CPA) has been inundated with angry messages from people mistaking him for the former campaign advisor, according to tweets posted by the man more accustomed to questions about retirement plans and asset allocation than presidential politics.
"Today has been surreal," Papadopoulos told Financial Planning in an email exchange. "I always wondered how it was to go viral, but never expected my name to be associated with words like 'indicted' and 'plead guilty' next to it."
The tweet has almost 20,000 likes and earned Papadopoulos almost 2,000 new followers, he says. "I hope they stick around."
But the name likeness was also causing him some grief.
“I am visiting my mother in Greece to look after some of her affairs, doc appts, move to new place, etc. I am slammed in interview requests. … I am staying in the family home and spotty wifi too,” he wrote.
On Twitter, he added that he had been enjoying a lot of home cooking rather than worrying about the mix-up: “Can assure u I am getting so fat eating the dishes she makes me.”
There were dozens of sympathetic responses from the Twittersphere.
“George Papadopoulos is to Greeks what John Smith is to the English,” said Peter Papas under the handle @CanadianFlags. “Leave this George alone!”
While the experience could be harmful to Papadopoulos the planner’s reputation, the mix-up “Could be good for business, rebrand yourself as the good Papadopoulos!” wrote @Wave_Race_64.
“I vouch for George, homeboy is a financial planner!” added widely followed investment manager Josh Brown, who has 905,000 followers of his @ReformedBroker Twitter account.
I am NOT that guy! Visiting my mother in Greece now and can assure u I am getting so fat eating the dishes she makes me...so no wiggling :)
https://t.co/kHn5sQQ8jE — George Papadopoulos (@feeonlyplanner)
October 30, 2017
To all: I am NOT that George Papadopoulos. I am in Greece visiting my mother so today it has been kind of surreal to keep up with.
— George Papadopoulos (@feeonlyplanner)
October 30, 2017
I am back now from our village where there are MANY George Papadopoulos men! News hit here but the name is so common it is not a big deal :)
— George Papadopoulos (@feeonlyplanner)
October 30, 2017
I will try to reply to some emails. Sorry, no video interview requests, it's not possible here in this small city in Greece in family home
— George Papadopoulos (@feeonlyplanner)
October 30, 2017
I vouch for George, homeboy is a financial planner!
https://t.co/50g8Xe71JC — Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker)
October 30, 2017
