Reinsurance
Protective has agreed to purchase Portfolio, combining two of the nation’s leading F&I and reinsurance providers and adding to a string of major acquisitions that includes AUL, Revolos and U.S. Warranty. +
Automotive News’s John Huetter details the myriad benefits President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill brings to dealership owners, starting with “bonus” depreciation for floorplanned units. +
Protective’s Tim Blochowiak offers a playbook for dealers who want to protect their customers, create a competitive advantage in sales and service, and accelerate their wealth-building programs. +
Protective Asset Protection’s Tim Blochowiak urges dealers to create a long-term earnings strategy that includes capital and investments, a diverse F&I portfolio, risk management and more. +
The S&P 500 suffered a 5.8% decline, making March the stock market index’s worst month since December 2022 as concerns mount over Trump administration tariffs on imported goods. +
The Conference Board’s U.S. Consumer Confidence Index has fallen 7.2 points year-over-year to 92.9, weighed down by a 12-year low of 65.2 for the board’s Expectations Index. +
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the annual rate of inflation fell from 3% in January to 2.8% in February on a year-over-year basis, slightly below the forecasted rate of 2.9%.+
Protective Asset Protection’s “groundbreaking” DOWC RE structure was designed to combine the benefits of traditional reinsurance programs with those of a dealer-owned warranty company. +
The Conference Board’s U.S. Consumer Confidence Index fell seven points to 98.3 in February, driven by an underwhelming short-term outlook for income, business and employment prospects. +
Few of the leading economists surveyed by Wolters Kluwer expect the Federal Reserve to announce an interest rate cut at its March meeting as inflation shows few signs of abating in 2025. +
The consumer price index rose for the fourth straight month in January, pushing inflation to a 3% year-over-year increase in the same month the Fed announced a pause to interest rate cuts. +
Vanguard Dealer Services’ Dylan Doran shares advice for dealers who are considering whether to reinsure their GAP following years of instability in the market and beyond. +
Economist and Forbes contributor Jason Schenker lists five key trends that will determine the performance of dealers’ investment portfolios in 2025, including an accelerating GDP. +
The Commerce Department reports the U.S. real gross domestic product increased 3.1% year-over-year in the third quarter, with retail trade serving as the lead contributor in 39 states. +
Ford confirmed a Reuters report that Jim Baumbick will move to its EV team as the factory seeks out a new head of quality who will likely be tasked with reducing recalls and warranty costs. +
Bermuda was the host and guest of honor at this year’s PwC Insurance Summit, according to a Bernews report covering the 17th annual event. +
Stan Bernard has been promoted to head of industry practices for the U.S. middle market for Zurich North America, succeeding Lynn Zeitler, who will retire in December. +
When customers refinance, dealers lose F&I income and underwriting profits. Falling interest rates have pushed more Americans who have secured an auto loan in the past 24 months to say they are “likely” to refinance soon, according to the latest TransUnion survey. +
Doug Timmerman, interim CEO of Ally Financial and president of Ally’s dealer financial services division, was named 2024 Auto Finance Executive of the Year by Black Book. +
EFG Companies announced the launch of Wealth Builder Profit Participation Suite, a new program that guarantees a profit per unit retailed increase of $206,400 per F&I producer, per year. +
Former managing director Ryan Hanlon has rejoined Portfolio as chief sales officer to grow sales, revenue and market share. +
ADCO Holdings’ David DeCredico warns dealers that rising repair costs will affect reinsurance profits and offers a dealership checklist. +
