Kiko Khounvichith knew he needed specific training before he would ever be successful in the finance and insurance department of a dealership. So early in 2006 he booked a plane ticket and reserved a spot in a one-week training course in Texas. But shortly before his departure, he saw a brochure about the Automotive Dealership Institute and felt compelled to learn more.
“It sounded like a really thorough program from experienced industry professionals and I knew more topics would be covered than in the seminar I signed up for,” Khounvichith says. He cancelled his trip to Texas and immediately signed up for the next available F&I course at ADI.
Khounvichith cites the real-life scenarios and personal experiences presented by the instructors as some of the most valuable aspects of the program. He says he also gained a better understanding of and appreciation for the perspective of financial institutions during the car-buying process. This insight can improve F&I managers’ relationships with lenders and help get more difficult deals bought when necessary.
Khounvichith is now an F&I manager at Superstition Springs Honda in Mesa, Ariz. His department is composed of four F&I managers, one special finance manager and a finance director. Khounvichith brings three years of experience in the mortgage industry and five years in the retail auto business.
He says that while his experience in the car business has been helpful, he doesn’t think it’s necessary to work in a dealership before attending an F&I training program such as ADI’s. “ADI fully prepared me for my position as an F&I manager,” he explains. “What I learned through the program I was able to apply right away and I apply that information every day at work.
“The faculty and staff at ADI are wonderful, generous people and they really want their students to succeed,” Khounvichith says. “To me, the F&I training course through ADI is the only one that matters.”
Tags: F&I Manager, Honda Dealership