Is your PEL closing in 2026? Advice from an expert to intelligently reposition your savings

Since the 2010 reform, PELs opened from March 1, 2011 are automatically closed after 15 years. Since March 2026, the first closures have started, and almost 3.2 million PELor approximately 36% existing plans, should be affected by this deadline by 2030. In fact, few holders still really use loan rights attached to the PEL. “ Frankly, it’s a tool that we rarely use when people make acquisitions. Often, we break it, they take the savings and use it as a contribution », Explains Patrick Lecuirot, president of the group of independent brokers and CGPs Conseillons Ensemble.

Maintain liquidity, then seek yield

First reflex recommended by professionals: do not put the entire amount back on a single support. Before even talking about yield, we must maintain a safety reserve. to deal with everyday unforeseen events: financial slack, car breakdown, replacement of household appliances or unforeseen health expenses.

“ The alternative, already, is to put on these booklets six months’ salary », recommends Patrick Lecuirot. He therefore advises keeping precautionary savings in regulated savings accounts, and filling out the LEP as a priority for eligible savers, “ he is boosted », he specifies, before directing the rest towards a life insurancenotably via secure euro funds. Certain contracts still display higher returns than the recent PEL, without excessive risk taking. Certain contracts still display higher performances than the recent PEL, while maintaining a reassuring framework for cautious profiles.

The classic mistake: only following the advice of your bank

The main trap, according to him, is to only ask your bank what to do with this capital. “ The main bad reflex is to ask the question only to your banker, because he has a bias: he represents a brand », Warns the banking investment expert.

Certain solutions offered by default, standardized bank investments, tax-advantaged passbook accounts or poorly understood products, may prove poorly suited to the client’s profile. He even cites the case ofa client who lost 15,000 euros on misguided life insurancelargely invested in structured products. Conversely, leaving several tens of thousands of euros sitting in a current account remains one of the worst possible decisions. “ We had clients with 300,000 euros in their current account. They never wanted to place because they didn’t understand », says Patrick Lecuirot

For seniors, also think about transmission

When the PEL expires for a senior profile, reflection can go beyond simple profitability. The closing can become an opportunity to anticipate the transfer of assets.

Patrick Lecuirot reminds us that an advance donation can avoid heavier inheritance taxes. “ Many people leave out the donation part. By anticipating, donate every ten years up to 100,000 euros per child still doable », underlines the professional.

Closing a PEL should not be seen as a constraint, but seen as an opportunity to rethink your savings strategy. We must still avoid letting this decision be made automatically, without any real reflection on heritage. Getting support and comparing several expert opinions can also be wise to choose the solution best suited to your profile and truly optimize the return on your capital.