Media Contacts:
Sam Landercasper, samuel.landercasper@pitkincounty.com
Katie Plat, kplat@cfefund.org
Pictured from left to right: Alma - Savings Collaborative Ambassador, Iliana Renteria in the middle- FEC of the Rockies Program Manager, Karina Roman - FEC of the Rockies Financial Counselor
PITKIN COUNTY (October 28, 2025) – Today, Pitkin County, in partnership with the national nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) announced that free legacy planning services are now available through the Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies.
This one-on-one financial counseling program offers residents access to help with legacy planning and taking steps to protect their assets at no cost. The Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies (FEC of the Rockies) is the first tri-county and rural FEC in the nation, serving Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle Counties. This public service is made possible through a collaboration between local governments, the nonprofit Savings Collaborative, and support from the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund. Clients can schedule an in-person or virtual
appointment at https://fecpublic.org/appointment-pitkincounty
Research shows that the vast majority of Americans own at least one asset – a bank account, a 401K, or a home – that is valuable today and likely to appreciate, but few have taken the steps necessary to secure those assets. Nearly 70 percent of Americans do not have a will or a broader legacy or estate plan. By increasing access to information about topics like adding
beneficiaries to accounts and creating essential documents such as wills and powers of attorney, this program will help people in America protect their assets for the future.
“Pitkin County is a proud founding member of the regional Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies. 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,” Said Kelly McNicholas Kury, chair of the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners.
“We’re excited to introduce legacy planning as part of the Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies,” said Barbara Freeman, CEO and Founder of The Savings Collaborative, the
financial counseling service provider for the Center. “For many of the families we serve, this is the next step in building financial stability. Legacy planning helps people put into writing how
they want to protect and care for the ones they love. 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.”
“Legacy planning is about empowering residents to think long-term,” said Sam Landercasper, Deputy Director of Human Services for Pitkin County Human Services and FEC Local Government Manager. “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.”
“The Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies counselors work hard to help clients build assets. With the addition of legacy planning services, counselors also can help Pitkin, Garfield and Eagle county residents protect and preserve those assets for future generations”, said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “We are thrilled to partner with Pitkin County staff and the Board of County Commissioners to provide these crucial services and ensure that legacy planning is available for everyone.”
The Financial Empowerment Center of the Rockies is one of dozens of cities and counties nationwide offering free financial counseling services through the FEC initiative. At FECs, professionally trained counselors provide one-on-one guidance to help individuals and families with low and moderate incomes manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, access safe and affordable mainstream banking products – and now, protect and preserve their assets.
FECs have served more than 200,000 clients nationwide. Collectively, they have helped residents reduce over $344 million in debt and grow their families’ savings by nearly $70 million. Since opening in March of 2025, the FEC of the Rockies has supported more than 110 clients.
About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)
The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting edge experience with
large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in over 145 cities and counties, and has disbursed over $70 million to local governments and their partners to support these efforts. For more information, please visit
www.cfefund.org or follow us on Bluesky at @cfefund.bsky.social; learn more about the FEC
Public initiative at www.fecpublic.org.