TSLA404.660-6.49%
GM82.510-1.555%
F14.430-0.34%
RIVN15.930-0.75%
CYD50.460-1.37%
HMC26.850-0.12%
TM178.190-2.03%
CVNA70.0101.11%
PAG180.7600.695%
LAD307.500-1.02%
AN195.8602.47%
GPI325.600-0.14%
ABG199.8200.27%
SAH83.650-0.06%
TSLA404.660-6.49%
GM82.510-1.555%
F14.430-0.34%
RIVN15.930-0.75%
CYD50.460-1.37%
HMC26.850-0.12%
TM178.190-2.03%
CVNA70.0101.11%
PAG180.7600.695%
LAD307.500-1.02%
AN195.8602.47%
GPI325.600-0.14%
ABG199.8200.27%
SAH83.650-0.06%
TSLA404.660-6.49%
GM82.510-1.555%
F14.430-0.34%
RIVN15.930-0.75%
CYD50.460-1.37%
HMC26.850-0.12%
TM178.190-2.03%
CVNA70.0101.11%
PAG180.7600.695%
LAD307.500-1.02%
AN195.8602.47%
GPI325.600-0.14%
ABG199.8200.27%
SAH83.650-0.06%

5 of the biggest issues facing the F&I office today and how to cope with them – Audrey McKinley

F&I departments are facing a unique set of challenges in today’s marketplace. While many dealers have recently made strong investments in digital retailing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital push has made many dealers wonder how digital retailing will impact the future of their F&I departments.

With experts forecasting the pandemic going well into 2021, what will that mean for the industry as a whole? On today’s show, we’re pleased to welcome sales and F&I expert Audrey McKinley, CEO of Auto Network Consulting, to discuss some of these challenges and what’s next to come for F&I trends.

In this segment, McKinley outlines five distinct and unique challenges facing the F&I department in the market conditions:

  1. Preparedness
  2. Digital retailing infrastructure
  3. Selling the F&I menu to customers over platforms like Zoom
  4. Doing more with less
  5. Creating a culture to facilitate a digital environment

McKinley and anchor Jim Fitzpatrick also tackle the following:

  • The role of F&I in a digital environment
  • The importance of additional department training
  • Trends that dealership leaders should watch for
  • How digital service can change gross profit
  • What is needed in an F&I manager today

Did you enjoy this interview with Audrey McKinley? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic with host Jim Fitzpatrick at jfitzpatrick@cbtnews.com.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date or catch-up on all of our podcasts on demand.

While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for all the latest auto industry news from CBT News

More from F&I
Remarkable Leaders in F&I honoree: Kimberly Garner | CMA Colonial 

Remarkable Leaders in F&I honoree: Kimberly Garner | CMA Colonial 

- June 4, 2026
CBT News is proud to recognize Remarkable Leaders in F&I who are raising the bar inside their dealerships and across the automotive industry. Joining us to commemorate this achievement is...
Remote control: Making F&I video calls feel like an in-person deal

Remote control: Making F&I video calls feel like an in-person deal

- June 4, 2026
Remote F&I is no longer just a workaround. For dealers selling cars to out-of-state buyers or customers who simply prefer to close from home, it is becoming a standard part...
Why protection products are essential in modern F&I

Why protection products are essential in modern F&I

- May 28, 2026
Paul Brown, Vice President of Training and Development at Ascent Dealer Services, says dealerships must rethink finance and insurance (F&I) as rising vehicle prices, repair costs, and longer loan terms...
pre-framing

How pre-framing helps dealers improve F&I close rates

- May 21, 2026
As dealership customers become more payment-sensitive and less tolerant of friction, finance and insurance departments face growing pressure to modernize how they present products and build trust. During the latest episode...