Dealer Week F&I Workshop: Adventure in Bayou Gagné-Argent

Presented by DJ Stringer

YES—There will be visuals. Yes—it’ll be funny. And YES—it’ll make you more money.

Get ready to paddle deep into the high-potential — and often misunderstood — waters of Finance & Insurance in the marine dealership world. “Adventure in Bayou Gagné-Argent” (French for “Money-Making Stream”) is an immersive, metaphor-rich educational series led by DJ Stringer, a nationally recognized F&I sales trainer, MarineMax powerhouse, Harley-Davidson dealership veteran, and productivity coach.
Built as a five-session journey through the bayou, each 90-minute stop reveals another twist in the dealership maze toward more profits, better customer experiences, and streamlined F&I processes. DJ blends humor, personal stories, Cajun-flavored metaphors, and hard-hitting dealership know-how into every session — designed for dealership pros who are ready to turn compliance into commission and paperwork into paydays.
Whether you're an Owner, GM, sales manager, F&I provider, or boat sales pro, this is your invite to jump in the boat and start paddling toward the money.
From the swamps of East Texas to the shores of Tampa Bay, DJ Stringer has trained hundreds of dealerships and the pros that do the work to master the complex (and lucrative) world of F&I in marine sales. He brings a unique blend of real-world dealership experience, process discipline, and entrepreneurial grit. Expect a mix of Southern storytelling, actionable strategy and just the right amount of bayou magic.
Boat dealership Owners/General Managers, Sales Managers, Business Managers, F&I providers, and sales professionals who want to unlock a path to higher profitability without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
5 x 90-minute sessions (attend one, some, or all).

TITLE: "DO YOU LIKE PANCAKES?"
Duration: 90 minutes
Your journey begins with the question that kicked off one of DJ’s most legendary training sessions: “Do you like pancakes?” From that quirky Cajun greet in Houma, Louisiana, comes a session that challenges every dealer to ask: “Are we launching our F&I process the right way ... or just floating aimlessly?”
In this first stop along the Bayou Gagné-Argent trail, participants will:
- Understand the hidden profitability in integrating F&I correctly into the marine sales process
- Decide between building an internal F&I department or partnering with an external/virtual provider
- Discover the non-negotiable traits of a successful marine F&I Manager (hint: they’re not just paperwork clerks — they're the best closers in the building)
- Master the art of the F&I introduction and customer interview — the launchpad to trust, value, and bigger margins
- Leave with tools: worksheet templates, interview guidelines, pro tips, and goal-setting resources
KEY TAKEAWAY: You can’t get where you're going if you don't launch right. Session I is your ramp. Let’s get the motor running.
If you can’t make a friend, you ain’t makin’ no money — start the greet right or stay tied to the dock.
TITLE: “LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND”
Duration: 90 minutes
Welcome to the second bend in the bayou — a session about mastering the art of understanding: your customer, your lenders, and your deal structure. Because in F&I, ignorance isn’t bliss — it’s expensive.
DJ kicks off this leg of the journey with a story about a good ol’ boy named Darrin who kept making the same mistake (yes, it involves streaking and jail time). The lesson? If you don’t learn from your missteps — especially in deal structure — you’re bound to get caught with your pants down.
This session dives into what separates the average F&I performer from the rainmakers:
- Learn how to turn customer interviews into insight-driven conversations — not awkward interrogations
- Discover the why behind the customer’s purchase so you can tailor your pitch to their real motivation
- Break down how to know your lenders — their quirks, their niches, and how to serve them deals they can actually approve
- Master the art of pre-structuring a deal before you ever hit “submit”
- Learn how to count accessories, fees, and product bundles the right way to maximize LTV and get more approvals
- Leave with real tools: interest rate calculators, lender cheat sheets, and invoice enhancement techniques
KEY TAKEAWAY: The second paddle stroke in this journey is precision. When you know your customer, your lenders, and your deal structure like the back of your hand, you don’t just close deals — you build profit machines.
Know your people, know your paper, or get bit tryin’ to swim with the gators.
TITLE: “SET THE HOOK!”
Duration: 90 minutes
We’ve launched from the dock and learned to navigate the waters — but now it’s time to set the hook and reel in the profit. In Session III of the Bayou Gagné-Argent journey, DJ Stringer brings the heat with a fast-paced, content-packed experience designed to sharpen your storytelling, product knowledge and presentation skills.
DJ opens the session with an unexpected tale — the real marketing origin of Santa Claus. Spoiler: he’s a Coca-Cola creation. But the takeaway? Santa is a story that sells. And so are your F&I products — if you know how to tell it right.
In this bayou stop, participants will:
- Learn how to use insights from the customer interview to deliver a customized, emotionally engaging presentation
- Understand why the money in F&I is often made before the F&I manager is even introduced — and how to coach your sales team accordingly
- Dive deep into the value, function, and emotional triggers behind F&I products — so you're not just selling add-ons, you’re solving problems
- Master menu selling techniques that drive trust, transparency, and profit
- Discover how story-selling creates value in the customer’s mind and drives higher conversion rates
- Leave with practical tools: a word-track worksheet, menu presentation framework, and the “magic phrases” that make options feel like must-haves
KEY TAKEAWAY: People don’t remember what you said. They remember how you made them feel. Story-selling turns objections into opportunities and customers into believers. This is the session where your sales game levels up — fast.
Santa was a sales pitch. So is your service contract. Learn how to tell the story.
TITLE: “GET IT IN THE BOAT!”
Duration: 90 minutes
You’ve got interest, you’ve got the story, and you’ve got the menu in front of the customer — now it’s time to land the deal. Session IV of the Adventure in Bayou Gagné-Argent series is where objections get turned into opportunities and profits get reeled into the boat.
DJ Stringer opens this one with a classic barroom story about Boudreaux trying to get a date — only to be reminded that sometimes it’s not how you say it ... it’s what you say. The same lesson applies in F&I: the right words at the right time make all the difference.
In this session, participants will:
- Learn practical strategies to overcome objections to financing, extended service plans, GAP, and other high-value F&I products
- Discover multiple ways to present and position each product, so they’re never stuck with just one pitch
- Build confidence in uncomfortable moments—because closing is often awkward before it’s rewarding
- Shift the mindset from pressure to protection, reframing the sale around what helps the customer long after the deal is done
- Leave with a fully stocked Overcoming Objections Toolkit
KEY TAKEAWAY: You’re not just casting lines — you’re closing deals. And when customers hesitate, it’s not the end of the conversation — it’s the beginning of your opportunity. Get bold. Get clear. Get it in the boat.
Objections are just opportunities in disguise. Learn how to swing — and win.
TITLE: “ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMIN’!”
Duration: 90 minutes
You made it. You’ve paddled the maze, crossed the swamp, dodged gators, and now — you’re rolling up to the party cabin at the end of Bayou Gagné-Argent. This final session isn’t just a recap — it’s a celebration of what’s possible when F&I is done right, done consistently, and done with heart.
In true DJ Stringer fashion, this closing 90-minute experience brings it all together with laughter, storytelling, inspiration, and a clear blueprint for ongoing success. Think of it as your F&I after-party ... with a training schedule.
In this final stop, participants will:
- Review the entire F&I journey as a flowing, money-making river — start to finish
- Receive a complete outline of the key elements needed to thrive in an F&I role at a boat dealership
- Get access to DJ’s exclusive yearlong training roadmap and opportunities to stay involved
- Hear one last unforgettable story (you’ll be telling this one at your dealership on Monday)
- Leave fired up, confident, and ready to take action
KEY TAKEAWAY: This isn’t the end — it’s your launch point. You’ve got the tools, the mindset, and the map. Now it’s time to bring your rowdy dealership friends and build a culture around the most under-leveraged profit stream in your store: F&I.
This ain’t a class. It’s a comeback tour. Bring your crew. Let’s party with profits.