About AFIP
The Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals is the sanctioning body for the F&I trade in the United States and Canada.
AFIP certifies in-dealership financial services personnel, finance sources, general agents and provides a host of compliance and best practices products.
AFIP Mission
AFIP has a threefold mission:
to give a voice to the F&I practitioner;
to protect the interests of the F&I profession, F&I professionals and their customers;
and to support the companies that serve the F&I function.
AFIP Background
The Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals was the vision of Laurie DiGiovanni, an F&I executive who saw a need for the F&I industry to govern their own business practices and have an active voice regarding the laws that were to impact and define them. She envisioned an organization that would educate F&I personnel, encourage and offer support for compliance initiatives, and advocate on behalf of dealers and the industry at large.
With Laurie’s direction, AFIP was founded in 1989 by Ford Motor Credit Company, GMAC, Bank of America, Dealer Based Services (the company that was owned at the time by AFIP’s current chairman, David Robertson), and many others. Laurie eventually handed the reigns over to industry veteran and long-time personal and industry supporter, David Robertson.
The AFIP Certification Program was created as a response to the barrage of changing regulations in the automobile finance industry.
The Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals Founding Members
Laurie Posella, President
Incentive, Inc.
Frank Beyers, Executive Vice President
George Byers & Sons
Mark Cheney, VP Product Management
Bank of America
Keith Crutcher, VP of Sales
GMAC
Gary Davis, Director of F&I Operations
Hendrick Automotive Group
Al Fields, Director of Finance
Don Knott Ford
Lloyd Gearhart, President
Western Diversified
Arden Hetland, VP of Marketing
American National Insurance Company
Randy Kneibes, VP of Marketing
Ford Motor Credit Corporation
Henry Primeaux, President
Primco
David Robertson, President
Warrantech – Dealer Based Services
Gerry White, VP
COIN
AFIP Timeline
In 1989, AFIP was formed and created.
In 2003, AFIP began offering the state law module and the Walsh Institute for Ethical Behavior ethics module (in addition to the previous requirement to sign the Code of Ethics).
In 2004, AFIP launched the Senior Certification Course (recasting the existing AFIP Certification Course as the Basic Certification Course), making the AFIP Certification Program the first and only legal and ethical training continuing education program for in-dealership financial services personnel in the US.
In 2007, AFIP launched the Enhanced AFIP Certification Program. The enhanced program features: the Carlaw F&I Legal Desk Book by the dealership lawyers at Hudson Cook in place of the old, bulky regulation-based text; an expanded multimedia set; course syllabus and study guide; online, on-demand testing at one of the hundreds of testing centers across the nation, and more!
AFIP launched the Master Certification Course in 2008 to act as the third tier in AFIP’s program. Master candidates are expected to pass an expert level exam in order to complete their continuing education and receive certification.
In 2017?? AFIP saw the need for a compliance company to assist Compliance Officers with their role and responsibilities.
In 2018, AFIP launched the Lifetime Master Certification Course. This is the final tier in the AFIP program. This certification was designed to keep members of the Association current and up-to-speed on new regulations, best practices, fines, laws, and new issues on the radar that F&I practitioners need to be aware of.
In 2020, AFIP announced it’s partnership with Product Prep to offer the Compliance Prep program, their new monthly subscription offering.
In 2021, AFIP announced and launched the new AFIP LMS (Learning Management System). This new state-of-the-art LMS gives Association members access to enhanced program features: the electronic Carlaw F&I Legal Desk Book by the dealership lawyers at Hudson Cook; a new course syllabus and easy shorter study modules; online testing proctored from your home or office.
2022, AFIP was given licensing rights by NADA for the VPP Program
2023 – Dealer resolve was created for the need of managing complaints.
Linda Robertson
Chairman
Sarah Williams
Director of Finance
Tevis Grisso
Executive Vice President
Trey Vann
Sr. Account Executive
Jessica Urias
Director of Operations
Vicki Gleason
Journal/News Editor
Advocacy & Outreach
Government & Industry Relations
AFIP can research and solicit legal and regulatory agency opinions, and help resolve issues negatively impacting the automotive industry.
We’re currently actively working to resolve two important issues.
- Trigger Lead of One– A practice in which credit reporting agencies use the information provided by dealers while ordering a customer’s credit history report and score to alert competing dealers and lenders of the opportunity to steal your customers, often causing the customer to receive unsolicited sales calls during negotiations.
- Aftermarket Product Restrictions – A practice in which credit reporting agencies use the information provided by dealers while ordering a customer’s credit history report and score to alert competing dealers and lenders of the opportunity to steal your customers, often causing the customer to receive unsolicited sales calls during negotiations.
Past victories include:
- Organization and leadership of an ad hoc group formed to represent VSC administrators in the negotiation with the IRS of a compromise on how service agreements are taxed
- Representation of the VSC industry before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to defeat a proposal that would have required automobile dealers to disclose the profit on vehicle service contracts.
- Secured a Staff Opinion Letter from the FTC to stop the practice of lawsuits against dealers for warranty-covered repairs in cases in which a VSC was sold.
Dispute Resolution & Expert Witness
Dispute Resolution*
AFIP Executive Director David Robertson provides an invaluable alternative to lengthy and costly legal battles. Robertson has a history of providing mutually acceptable dispute resolution. Past activity includes work involving aftermarket administrators, insurance companies, franchised dealers, independent general agents and consumers.Expert Witness Services*
David Robertson, AFIP’s executive director and industry veteran, has a successful track record of drafting expert witness reports and testifying in depositions and in court at both the state and federal levels for matters between aftermarket administrators, insurance companies, franchised dealers, independent general agents and consumers. Areas of Expertise- Aftermarket Products Administration
- In-store Sales
- Underwriting
- F&I Process
* These services provided individually by AFIP Executive Director David Robertson. David Robertson is a qualified industry expert, but does not and should not be construed to provide legal advice.
Speaking / Training / Media
If you need an industry expert to speak or train at your next event, AFIP can provide or help you locate skilled professionals for almost any subject matter. Whether you need a panelist to provide practical information on dealership Red Flags Rule compliance or company-wide ECOA training, AFIP or one of our Industry Members can help.
Expert Speaking
It isn’t always easy to find a subject matter expert when planning an industry or corporate event. If you need assistance finding a knowledgeable presenter, AFIP can help. AFIP Executive Director David Robertson, with almost 40 years experience in the industry, can speak on a multitude of industry-related subjects or can help you locate an expert from among our prestigious AFIP Industry Members.
Expert Training
In addition to the compliance product-related training provided by AFIP and its multiple Industry Members, AFIP offers additional training services.*
Specialized Training*
- ECOA Training – Vetted and approved by the Department of Justice to conduct court-mandated Equal Credit Opportunity Act training for dealerships.
- Applied Business Ethics – Quality college-level ethics training for industry-related businesses.
Compliance Training**
- AFIP Certification Training
- Red Flags Rule Program Training
- Safeguards Rule Program Training
* Services provided individually by AFIP Executive Director David Robertson.
** Services provided by AFIP Industry Members.
Media Resource
AFIP Executive Director David Robertson can provide articles, quotes or resources for the trade or popular media. Dave has written for and been quoted in multiple industry magazines, including a long-running monthly column in F&I Management & Technology, and has appeared on mainstream television news programs like ABC 20/20 speaking about F&I-related topics.