Pitkin County partners with national nonprofit for legacy planning

Pitkin County has partnered with Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, a national nonprofit, to offer free legacy planning services through the Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies. 

The one-on-one financial counseling program will provide residents with access to help with legacy planning, to protect their assets at no cost.

“Legacy planning is about empowering residents to think long-term,” Sam Landercasper, deputy director of human services for Pitkin County Human Services and FEC local government manager, said in a press release. “Through the Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies, we’re helping families plan ahead with confidence. It’s a meaningful next step in our partnership to strengthen financial stability and ensure everyone in our community has access to trusted guidance and peace of mind.”

According to a press release, the Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies is the first tri-county and rural FEC in the nation, serving Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties due to a collaboration between local governments, the nonprofit Savings Collaborative, and support from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund.

“Pitkin County is a proud founding member of the regional Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies,” said Kelly McNicholas Kury, chair of the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners. “By offering free legacy planning, we’re helping residents in Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties protect what they’ve worked hard for and make sure their loved ones are cared for. Legacy planning is for everyone, at every stage of life. When people feel secure and prepared, our community as a whole becomes stronger and more resilient.”

At FECs, professionally trained counselors provide one-on-one guidance to support individuals and families with low and moderate incomes as they manage finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, access safe and affordable mainstream banking products, and protect and preserve their assets. According to the release, FECs have served more than 200,000 clients nationwide, helped residents reduce over $344 million in debt, and grown families’ savings by nearly $70 million.

Since opening in March 2025, the FEC of the Rockies has supported more than 110 clients, the release confirms.

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“Legacy planning helps people put into writing how they want to protect and care for the ones they love,” said Barbara Freeman, CEO and founder of The Savings Collaborative, the financial counseling service provider for the Center. “That’s deeply meaningful work. It’s another way to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors has the tools to plan for their future with confidence.” 

Clients can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment at fecpublic.org/appointment-pitkincounty.