What makes a productive, top-notch F&I person? Training! And who is in the best position to make sure the F&I department personnel are well educated on products, technology, customer service, sales techniques and overall F&I management and processes? The AGENT!

Agents are continually faced with the task of making sure the F&I managers at their dealerships are performing to the best of their potential and at the utmost efficiency, all while providing superb customer service. In the past, training meant taking time away from the office. However, with the advent of the Internet, a vast amount of first-class, highly credible training is available so that leaving the office is not an issue.

Courses applicable to the F&I professional available online not only include sales courses, but also offer specific product training, as well as sales and technique training. Several providers offer online training for specific products, sales and F&I training, and some training providers offer both.

I thought it would be a great value-added way to provide our readers with a little information to help get them started on their search for the best company that suits their needs. Therefore, I have listed below a variety of organizations that offer training that would be beneficial to an F&I manager. This list is not all-inclusive, but it is at least a start for acquiring an excellent skill set in the F&I department. Several companies that offer one or more online trainings related to products, sales techniques, F&I management or a combination thereof are provided here:

Allstate provides several webinars to agents that familiarizes them with Allstate’s products and processes. You can visit Allstate’s website at www.allstatedealerservices.com to learn about their products and services.

GSFSGroup offers online training in a virtual classroom format where the trainee gets the learning benefits of both an online  and a traditional classroom setting. These courses are available on a continual basis and are offered for product training as well as general F&I management training. For more information about GSFSGroup and the training available, visit www.gsfsgroup.com.

Innovative Aftermarket Systems, Inc. (IAS) provides extensive training through weekly webinars for each of its products including IAS’s F&I menu software, its eRating and eContracting system and the Dealer Online Claims System (DOCS).  For more information about IAS’s products and training, visit www.ias-direct.com.

MaximTrak offers technology training on the MaximTrak application and conducts in-depth F&I schools on a monthly basis. The application training includes Life Online training via GoToMeetings, on-demand web training, an interactive certification training program, weekly webinars and online user guides and training manuals.  For more information about training with MaximTrak, visit www.maximtrak.com.

Mosaic Interactive, LLC offers web-based legal compliance and training tools via webinars. Video-based training modules are available to assist in establishing compliance by providing training modules, materials and other tools via the Internet. For more information about Mosaic Interactive, LLC and the training options available, visit www.mosaic-compliance.com.

National Automotive Experts provides a variety of webinars for its products including software usage. For more information about National Automotive Experts and the products and services they offer, visit www.nationalautomotiveExperts.com.

Reahard & Associates offers an online course titled, “Achieving F&I Excellence Online!” and covers the following topics: professional financial services management, customer-focused selling, customer repayment options, vehicle protection options, credit evaluation/analysis, laws and regulations and professionalism. A new module is delivered each week and allows the F&I manager to obtain training at his or her own pace, at the dealership, when schedules allow. For more information about Reahard & Associates and the online training offered, visit www.go-reahard.com.

Ristken Software Services offers online training sessions on its software application products via the GoToMeeting’s web conferencing service. These sessions are available Tuesdays through Fridays and have morning and afternoon sessions available for all time zones. For more information about Ristken, its available products and respective training, visit www.ristken.com.

The Joe Verde Group has its own “JVTN” (Joe Verde’s Training Network), which offers interactive training and practice for sales, service and finance, compliance, HR and even reception. The program offers a variety of online courses that help individuals through interactive training, testing, reporting, tracking and sales level certification practice sessions. For more information about The Joe Verde Group and its online training, visit www.joeverde.com.

United Development Systems (UDS) offers a webinar series that covers a variety of online training emcompassing sales workshops, F&I certification programs, sales management workshops and more. To learn more about UDS and the variety of training programs available, visit www.udsdealerservices.com.

The Vision of F&I, Inc. provides its menu customers with free online instruction and tutorials consisting of over 4o modules about sales and compliance training. It also offers a 3-hour course specific to powersports. For more information about The Vision of F&I, Inc. and its available online training programs, visit www.thevisionoffandi.com or www.visionmenupro.com.

All the companies listed are excellent sources of online training that the F&I manager can use to improve his or her knowledge of F&I management, sales techniques and product information, thereby improving performance as an F&I manager. The providers listed offer a gamut of possibilities including, but not limited to, online training and tutorials, web conferencing services, training videos and workshops.

Two additional great sources that help with acquiring information and/or  getting answers to possible questions from others in the industry are through the F&I Forum located on F&I Management & Technology’s website, and through our very own online forum, AE-Connect. These, much like LinkedIn or FaceBook, can help an agent and others in the industry share information, ideas and resources.

A plethora of training and resources are available to you. I have provided you with a start. Now, it is up to you to begin your quest to achieve the highest amount of success that you can achieve – your personal best. Doing your best will provide you with success in your position, and will make the dealership a successful as well!