PALS Releases Full Agenda

LAS VEGAS – Organizers of the annual P&A Leadership Summit have released the full agenda for the 2016 event, which will be held Aug. 30–31 at Paris Las Vegas.

“We are pleased to offer an agenda tailored to the needs of leading executives in the F&I industry,” said David Trinder, CEO of F&I Administration Solutions and advisory board chair. “We identified the key issues faced by providers and administrators and invited the best and brightest speakers to tackle each one.”

Here is what this year’s event has in store:

Execute Like a Fighter Pilot: 5 Action Steps to Lead Your Company to Greatness

This year’s opening keynote speaker is retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Bruce Bright, a veteran of two Middle East combat tours, and he is the ideal speaker to set the tone for our event. He is an expert in leadership and accountability, two qualities we all must possess to lead our companies and our industry into the future.

Threats Facing the F&I Industry

Our first panel session will focus on the threats facing the F&I industry and will cover everything from new in-vehicle technology and its impact on the service contract segment to the CFPB. Our moderator, AUL Corp.’s Jimmy Atkinson, brings more than 30 years of experience to the stage, where he will be joined by Tony Wanderon of National Auto Care, Assurant Risk Management’s Mike Saint, David Neuenschwander of National Automotive Experts and Safe-Guard Products International’s David Pryor.

Presenting F&I Products Online

Should we put more information about F&I products — including pricing — online? Which products should be included, and how do we present them effectively? My partner at F&I Admin, Kumar Kathinokkula, will lead this discussion, and he will be joined by a diverse group that includes Justin Gasman of McCaddon Cadillac Buick GMC in Boulder, Colo., Daniel Lievrouw, SVP IT and Operations at American Guardian Warranty Services, Matt Nowicki, VP of Retail Software at IAS, Brett Pomerantz, who leads the ecommerce division at Cox Automotive and Mark Thorpe, president of The Impact Group.

Current Trends Affecting GAP Losses

Lee Bowron of Kerper and Bowron and Chris Stoll of Allstate Dealer Services are actuaries with impeccable credentials and the inside edge on the performance and loss challenges of GAP — today and in the near future. Each will offer his own perspective on the topic before taking questions from the audience.

Positioning Your Business for the Future

Day One of our event closes with an evening keynote address from attorney Tara Newell, a partner in the transactions client service group at Bryan Cave and co-leader of that firm’s private equity team. Her expertise in negotiating the buying and selling of companies in a wide range of industries will undoubtedly prove to be of great value to our audience.

eSignatures Today and in the Future

Day Two begins with an in-depth discussion of electronic signatures. How do we collect electronic signatures today, and how do we make sure all signatures are acceptable to every participant in the documentation chain? Moderator Brian Reed of F&I Express will be joined by Andy Mayers and Daniel Doman of Dealertrack and RouteOne, respectively, and technology experts Tim Gill and Jim Maxim of Advent Resources and MaximTrak Technologies.

Carrying the Torch to Light the Flame

Car buyers need only conduct a brief Google search or consult an ill-informed friend of family member to convince themselves not to invest in F&I products. David Robertson, executive director of the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals (AFIP), believes we are responsible for countering false claims about our industry and raising awareness about the benefits our products bring to consumers.

How to Adjudicate Claims for High-Risk Clients

How can we ensure that, when dealing with high-risk clients, we do not pay claims that shouldn’t be paid nor overpay those that should? This session will cover everything from inspections and sourcing parts to the controls administrators must have in place to properly manage claims. Our moderator, Auto Dealer Today’s Tariq Kamal, will be joined by EFG Companies’ Trish Myers, Matt Russell of AUL Corp., Jeff Robinson of Alpha Warranty, and Vehicle Administrative Services’ John Sopocy.

Applying Modern Investment Theories to Reserve Assets

The market is booming and expectations from clients are at an all-time high. Robert Burghart of Cornerstone Financial Consulting at Raymond James will give us a snapshot of the economic indicators he tracks on a daily basis and discuss how to balance client demands for higher returns against the need to manage risk and remain compliant.

The Pre-Owned Correction and F&I’s Big Opportunity

Jimmy Atkinson returns to our stage to deliver our closing keynote address. He will examine the state of the used-vehicle market, including the opportunity a major correction — and the resulting glut of high-mileage vehicles — will create for our industry.

To register for the 2016 P&A Leadership Summit, click here. To inquire about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, contact David Gesualdo via email or at 727-947-4027.