City of Pueblo Launches Free Legacy Planning Program to Help Increase Asset Protection...

Pueblo FEC to offer one-on-one to legacy planning support to help residents retain wealth by protecting and preserving assets, with support from Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund

PUEBLO - Today, the City of Pueblo in partnership with the national nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) announced that free legacy planning services are now available through the Pueblo Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). 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. Pueblo FEC offers professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a free public service in coordination with the City of Pueblo and United Way of Pueblo County. More information can be found online at the Pueblo United Way Financial Empowerment Center .

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.

"Every family in Pueblo deserves the peace of mind that comes with planning for the future, without the burden of financial barriers standing in the way of their plans for them and their loved ones," said Mayor of Pueblo Heather Graham. "By offering free legacy planning services at the Pueblo FEC, we are breaking down barriers that too often prevent residents from protecting what they've built and ensuring their loved ones are cared for. This is about helping our community thrive for generations of Puebloans."

"Pueblo FEC counselors work hard to help clients build assets. With the addition of legacy planning services, counselors also can help Puebloans 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 the City of Pueblo and Mayor Heather Graham to provide these crucial services and ensure that legacy planning is available for everyone."

Pueblo FEC 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 2023, the Pueblo FEC has supported more than 100 clients, helping them reduce $76,000 in debt and build $11,000 in savings.

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 the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund website or follow us on Bluesky ; learn more about the FEC Public initiative at the FEC Public website .

Media Contacts:

Haley Sue Robinson, Director of Public Affairs (719)-553-2613 , [email protected]
Katie Plat, [email protected]