Orange County Financial Empowerment Center Launches Free Legacy Planning Program

Orange County, FL - In partnership with thenational nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Orange County Government today announced that free legacy planning services are available through the Orange County Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). This individualized service can help individuals retain wealth by protecting and preserving their assets.

Orange County is one of dozens of cities and counties nationwide, and the first local government in Florida, offering free financial counseling services through the FEC initiative. Administered by Orange County's Community and Family Services Department, the program is a collaborative effort among Orange County Government, Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County, and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. Anyone who lives or works in Orange County can participate and make an appointment, for free. To learn more, visit OrangeFEC.org.

"Financial Empowerment Center counselors work hard to help clients build assets," said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "With the addition of legacy planning services, counselors also can help Orange County residents protect and preserve those assets for future generations. We are thrilled to partner with Orange County to provide these crucial services and ensure that legacy planning is available for everyone."

Research from the Federal Reserve 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, according to Caring.com's 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Survey. By increasing access to information about adding beneficiaries to accounts and creating essential documents such as wills and powers of attorney, this program will help people in Orange County protect their assets.

At the Orange County Financial Empowerment Center, professionally trained counselors provide one-on-one guidance in-person or virtually to help individuals and families 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.

"Orange County takes pride in being the first local government in Florida to establish a Financial Empowerment Center, endeavoring in new and exciting ways to aid local residents grow, prosper and find financial stability," said Lavon Williams, deputy director for Orange County Community and Family Services. "The addition of the new legacy planning service, shows our county's ongoing and dedicated commitment to helping area residents, and future generations to come, realize the American dream."

Since opening in 2024, the Orange County Financial Empowerment Center has supported more than 320 clients, helping them reduce nearly $315,000 in debt and build over $176,000 in savings. 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.

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About Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County:

Driven by a vision that everyone has a safe and stable place to live, Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County strengthens communities by building and repairing homes, educating and counseling homeowners and the public, and researching solutions to the broader housing crisis. Founded in 1986, Habitat Orlando & Osceola has built, rehabbed or repaired over 900 homes throughout Central Florida. The nonprofit has achieved recognition as one of the 40 "top producers" out of over 1,100 Habitat for Humanity International affiliates working in communities throughout the United and in more than 70 countries and is a HUD-certified local Housing Counseling Agency. To learn more, visit HabitatOrlando.org.