Where is the FEC located?

The FEC is located at the MLK Dream Center: 1522 Linden Ave, South Bend, IN 46628.

What are the FEC hours?

The FEC hours are:

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 9 – 5 pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9 – 8 pm

How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment online at https://www.southbendfec.org/contact-schedule-an-appointment

What can FEC financial counselors help clients with?

Financial counseling in the FEC model focuses on the areas of banking, credit, debt, and savings. FEC clients generally work on the following counseling activities such as:

• General money management
• Budgeting and reducing expenses
• Finding and using safe and affordable banking products
• Establishing and building credit and increasing credit scores
• Decreasing debt and reducing delinquent accounts
• Building savings and learning effective savings behaviors

What can FEC financial counselors not help clients with?

Counselors are not investment advisors, lawyers, crisis managers, benefits navigators, or therapists. Counselors should not be making financial decisions for clients; they can suggest options using their expertise and knowledge of a client’s specific situation.

What happens during a financial counseling session?

FEC clients intend to have a multi-session engagement as making progress on financial goals requires multiple counseling sessions. Clients do the following activities in an initial counseling session:

• Sign a FEC Consent Form
• Complete a Financial Health Assessment (FHA)
• Sign a Credit Pull Authorization Form

Counselors then work with clients to understand their financial goals and challenges, prioritize what to work on, create a customized work plan that aligns with FEC counseling activities, provide the next steps for the client to work on, and schedule the next session.

In follow-up sessions, Counselors discuss progress on completing next steps, reassess goals and priorities, assign more next steps, record client progress in the FEC database, and schedule the next session. Counselors use the FEC database in each session to take notes and record client progress and achievement.

Are there any restrictions on meeting with a financial counselor?

The only restriction in meeting with a counselor is being 18+ years old and being a resident of South Bend (All City of South Bend employees are eligible regardless of City of Residence). There are no income limits. Documentation, or program restrictions.

How long can someone meet with a financial counselor?

FEC counseling is intended to be a long-term relationship with multiple sessions required for clients to see results and achieve outcomes. The length of a client’s involvement with the FEC varies widely and depends on the client’s financial goals and the length of time needed to achieve them. Some clients can complete specific goals within a few months and have no further need for financial counseling, while other clients see their counselor for multiple years to address multiple goals.

There is no limit on the number of financial counseling sessions a client may have. Clients commonly have FEC sessions every few weeks or every few months depending on their goals, the next steps they were assigned between sessions, and counselor availability.

How are FEC financial counselors trained?

Counselors are full-time employees hired by the counseling provider entity.  All FEC counselors must be trained according to the FEC training standards. They receive robust training in the context and socio-economic factors of poverty, financial content, and counseling/coaching skills are required to complete training on the FEC model, FEC database, and code of ethics; and must complete and pass a CFE Fund exam before being eligible to see clients. Additionally, each FEC trains its counselors on localized issues, such as public benefits and consumer financial protections, are well as on its local partners. Counselors also complete at least 30 hours of continuing education each year.  

How are FEC services different from financial education?

Even in the best cases, general financial education classes are typically not enough to help families disentangle complicated financial situations. While FEC counseling typically involves providing financial education during counseling sessions, a counselor’s role goes beyond education. Counselors help clients prioritize goals; set individualized, actionable and achievable next steps; emphasize client retention to facilitate accountability; track client progress in the FEC database to capture achievements.

How long does a counseling session last?

Counseling sessions are set for 30-to-45-minute sessions, one-on-one with your financial counselor. The initial session will be up to 60 – 90 minutes.