For many people, financial challenges can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s managing debt, repairing credit, building savings or navigating an unexpected life change, knowing where to begin can be difficult.
For Lansing residents, the city’s Financial Empowerment Center offers a place to start — with free, confidential and judgment-free access to professional, one-on-one financial counseling.
Launched in 2013, the center was created to provide residents with trusted, unbiased guidance as they work toward greater financial stability and their personal goals. Counselors can help with household budgeting, debt reduction, savings goals, student loans, credit, homeownership, and connecting residents with safe and affordable banking services.
The results demonstrate the impact of that support. As of April, the Lansing FEC had conducted 17,784 counseling sessions with more than 6,000 clients. Those clients have collectively reduced their debt by $14.6 million, increased their savings by $1.9 million, and opened 870 safe and affordable bank accounts.
However, financial empowerment isn’t only about responding to immediate challenges. The center recently expanded its services to include legacy planning and asset protection, giving Lansing residents another way to prepare for the future.
“Legacy planning is for everyone,” said Tiffany Lemieux-McKissic, director of the Office of Financial Empowerment and the Financial Empowerment Center. “If you have people or things you care about, your FEC counselor can help you understand your options for protecting your legacy.”
Through the new service, counselors can help residents review assets, insurance and titles; update account beneficiaries; and connect with resources for preparing documents, such as wills, guardianship plans and powers of attorney. While counselors can provide guidance and help residents understand their options, counselor-supported legacy planning is not a legal service.
The expanded offering reflects the center’s broader approach to financial wellness: Helping residents not only address what’s happening today but also prepare for what comes next.
Counselors often see clients gain confidence as they take greater control of their finances. They may leave with reduced debt, improved credit, stronger savings habits or a clearer plan for protecting their assets. Just as importantly, Lemieux-McKissic said, clients often feel less stressed and more hopeful about their financial goals.
“Financial empowerment isn’t just about money; it’s about dignity, access and the belief that everyone in Lansing deserves the tools to thrive,” she said.
For residents who aren’t sure where to begin, the first step is simply reaching out.
“They don’t need to have anything ‘figured out’ before coming,” Lemieux-McKissic said. “The FEC is designed to meet people exactly where they are and guide them toward their goals at a comfortable pace.”
Lansing residents can schedule a free appointment by calling 3-1-1 or visiting the city of Lansing’s Financial Empowerment Center online. The center is at 1221 Reo Road and is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
