The spectacular rise in gold, with a price around 4,000 euros per ounce in May 2026 after an increase of more than 40% over a rolling year in euros, revives a simple question. How manygold do you really need to have to protect your savings ? Investment banks converge on an indicative range of 5 to 15% of walletJP Morgan having even made the yellow metal an asset “heart of wallet” in its latest strategic notes. Canadian company Sprott defends a 10% allocation to physical gold for defensive profiles.
However, French individuals remain around 3% on average, a sign of heritage reflection that is rarely formalized. For Étienne Brois, heritage engineering consultant and author Protect your savings with gold and silver published by Eyrolles at the end of May 2026, the right dosage depends on three variables, age, capital already constituted and life objective. “It depends on the age of the captain.”he summarizes. Three typical profiles emerge.
Three profiles, three logics to build your gold pocket
First profile, the young worker aged 20 to 35, who has not yet established heritage. Its aim is not to protect a capital existing but to build one. The recommended logic is that of gradual accumulation rather than massive purchases in one go, so as not to enter at a market peak. “The idea is to buy it on a regular basis, a bit like you would put it on a booklet A for the future, instead of putting it on booklet A you put it on thegold“suggests Étienne Brois. At 1.50% remuneration since February 2026 and a real return close to zero after inflation, the regulated passbook provides security but not value creation over thirty years.
Second profile, the fifty or sixty-year-old in the phase of securitywhich comes from a business sale, a real estate sale or several decades of employee savings. The capital exists, the priority becomes to freeze its purchasing power over time. The gold pocket grows to become a real property insurancein addition to real estate and life insurance. Étienne Brois’ logic consists of arbitrating in favor of real estate income for the savers who do not have sufficient retirement, and to position gold as protection of the underlying capital.
Third profile, the pre-retiree or retiree, for whom gold plays the role of shock absorber rather than engine. Liquidityease of resale and exemption at 22 years old makes it a useful life insurance supplement for transmission. A fourth use has recently appeared among CGPs, gold savings for children as an alternative to the A savings account. To be considered as a wealth strategy, and not as a technical equivalent of the savings account, since exit taxation, daily liquidity and capital guarantee are not comparable.
Gold and silver, finding the right mix between the two metals
The allocation debate does not stop at total quantity. It remains to decide between the two historical monetary metals. Étienne Brois proposes an educational grid, to be received as an accepted heritage doctrine rather than a market consensus. Under normal conditions, the benchmark given is three quarters in gold, one quarter in silver. Gold acts as reserve long term, silver adds catch-up potential. The white metal grew by more than 120% in euros in 2025 and continues to be supported by industrial demand linked to solar and data centers.
This distribution may change in the event of lasting geopolitical tensions. The expert then describes a shift towards a 50-50 grid, justified by the nature “fractionable” money for small transactions. “To exchange with a neighbor who has vegetables, we will prefer silver coins rather than gold coins.gold“illustrates the expert, who also recalls that financial players like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have increased their physical stocks of silver in recent years.
In terms of entry tickets, the range is wide. Hybrid solutions like Veracash allow you to buy fractional gold from 1 euro with storage in chest shared, without physical holding in the hands of the saver. A physical coin starts around 200 to 300 euros for a half Napoleon or a tenth of an ounce, more for a ingot. The main thing is not the initial amount but the regularity. Better one modest monthly payment for ten years than a massive purchase on a peak, especially after a year when the yellow metal doubled.
The allocation ranges cited (5 to 15% at JP Morgan, 10% at Sprott) constitute institutional benchmarks and do not constitute personalized advice. The 75/25 and 50/50 distribution between gold and silver reflects the expert’s educational grid and not a market consensus. Investing in gold and silver carries a risk of price fluctuation and a risk of theft for physical holding. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. For any specific asset situation, personalized advice from a wealth management advisor is recommended.
