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The financial and insurance (F&I) office is often viewed as the bridge between a dealership's profitability and customer satisfaction. While processes and product knowledge are vital, adopting a servant mindset can transform F&I operations into a cornerstone of trust and long-term customer relationships. Here's how embracing a servant leadership philosophy can enhance your F&I operations at automotive, RV, marine, and powersports dealerships. 

Are you ready to elevate your career in the automotive industry? Adam Marburger, best-selling author, serial entrepreneur, and CEO/Founder of Ascent Dealer Services, has something special on the horizon: his upcoming book, “The Servant Leading F&I Manager”.

In the ever-evolving world of automotive, marine, powersport, recreational vehicle, and commercial truck and bus finance and insurance (F&I), successfully selling F&I products requires more than simply listing benefits and features.

Online F&I training offers the flexibility that busy professionals need. With the ability to access Ascent Dealer Services' cutting-edge training materials at any time and from any location, finance managers and F&I professionals can fit their education into their schedules without disrupting their workflow.

In today’s dealership environment, every penny counts. Literally. Whether it’s saving a few cents on paperwork or adding an extra dollar to a financing deal, those small amounts quickly add up. As dealership owner-principals and F&I department managers, understanding the true value of every penny can be the difference between just getting by and thriving in this competitive industry. 

Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” While he was talking about hockey, this quote applies just as well to our world in F&I. If you don’t offer every product to every customer on every deal, you’re leaving money on the table. 

Whether you’re an automotive, marine, powersport, commercial truck, commercial bus, or recreational vehicle dealer principal, chances are you’re constantly seeking ways to enhance not only gross profit but customer satisfaction and loyalty too. One way to do this is to ensure that your F&I team always adds GAP coverage to every deal.

We all have a title on our business card. Most of the time, it’s Finance Manager or Business Manager. I think titles are important...

For those of you that have followed my journey, you know I’m an avid Martial Artist. I’ve been fighting in rings, cages, and on the mats my entire adult life. Martial Arts has not only changed my personal life but my business life as well. For that reason, I use many analogies in my coaching sessions related to my experience with martial Arts.

Most stories have a clear introduction, middle, and conclusion. This makes the story straightforward and easy to follow. Also, your story must focus on your customer. Create a scenario and put the customer in it.

We have all been in this situation; we are in a closing with a customer, and they are really engaged in the process. We have built great rapport. They like us. They are engaged in the conversation about finance products.

For years, we have been coaching our sales and F&I departments by telling them, “When value exceeds price, your customer will purchase from you”. Is that really the case? I have always believed that, but lately I have put my own spin on it.

For years, F&I managers have been successful at payment manipulation and repair scare. We have learned how to extend the term and use fancy closing techniques to close down the payment buyer...

The relationship between the sales manager and the finance manager is directly tied to the profitability of the finance department. The sales manager is the architect of the deal, and it is the finance manager’s responsibility to get involved as early as possible to help facilitate the transaction.