A new program will offer one-on-one long-term financial counseling to Allegheny County residents. These legacy planning services will help people prepare for what happens to large assets — such as a house or bank account — when they die.

The program is made free through a partnership between Allegheny County, local nonprofit Neighborhood Allies, Advantage Credit Counseling Service, and the New York-based Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund.

Allegheny County’s Financial Empowerment Center, which started in 2019, already offers free personal financial counseling and aims to assist people with their personal financial goals, such as reducing debt, growing savings, owning a home or starting a business. The center will now also offer long-term legacy planning as well.

“Every family in Allegheny County, regardless of income level, deserves the peace of mind that comes with planning for the future,” Erin Dalton, Director, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, said in a statement. “Legacy planning means taking simple but important steps — like adding beneficiaries, writing a will, or setting up powers of attorney — to make sure your assets are protected and passed on as you intend.”

Counselors can’t provide legal advice, but can offer assistance about organizing their assets, reviewing insurance and titles, and updating beneficiaries on their bank accounts, said Sarah Dieleman Perry, Director of Economic Opportunity at Neighborhood Allies. Counselors can also connect people to other resources to help them prepare a will or power of attorney.

Since opening in 2019, the Financial Empowerment Center has supported more than 3,000 clients, helping them reduce $10 million in debt and build $3 million in savings, according to county officials.

Financial Empowerment Center Services are available at CareerLink-Downtown, North Hills Community Outreach in Millvale, CareerLink-East in Monroeville, UPMC Neighborhood Center in East Liberty, Human Services Center Mon Valley in Turtle Creek, South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) in Bethel Park, Goodwill-Lawrenceville, and the Homewood Community Engagement Center in Homewood.

To make an appointment, visit www.myfinancialpower.org or call 1-800-298-0237.