EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has added four finance and insurance specialists to its Auto Dealer Group. The move expands the firm’s F&I capabilities for dealership clients.
Ryan Hoff and John Jacobi lead the group of four, both based in Irvine, California. Each brings more than 25 years of experience in point-of-sale warranty and insurance products for auto dealerships.
Hoff will serve as chief revenue officer of EPIC Auto Dealer F&I solutions, and Jacobi as chief growth officer for F&I.
Jeff Rodewald and George Hogan joined alongside them as principals within the group.
Crawford McInnis, EPIC’s chief sales officer, said the firm is adding dedicated F&I capability to its existing auto dealer platform as a deliberate build-out rather than routine hiring.
“EPIC has built a strong platform for auto dealers across risk consulting, P&C and employee benefits,” McInnis said. “With the addition of dedicated F&I expertise, we are intentionally building a more complete, integrated offering for auto dealer clients.”
Eric Shaw, managing principal and leader of EPIC Auto Dealer Group, said the four hires bring F&I sector expertise to the firm’s platform across risk consulting, property and casualty, and employee benefits.
The build-out comes as the dealership F&I desk is taking on greater weight in auto insurance distribution. Nearly half of new auto insurance policies are now bought online, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study.
Digital purchases rose to 48% from 36% five years ago. As standard auto coverage shifts online, the dealership point-of-sale becomes a more concentrated channel for add-on products, extended warranties, and bundled F&I solutions.
The product environment those specialists will work in is also shifting. Average full-coverage auto insurance costs fell 6% nationwide in 2025 to $2,144, after surging 46% between 2022 and 2024. A 25% tariff on vehicles and imported parts is expected to push repair costs higher in 2026. That pressure feeds directly into extended warranty pricing at the dealership level.
F&I product lines are becoming more complex as electric vehicles grow in dealership inventory. MGAs and specialty insurers are expanding into EV coverage with products addressing thermal runaway, battery fires, extended battery warranties, and charging infrastructure liability. Those products are becoming a core part of the F&I desk rather than a niche add-on.
