Keep your money safe or try to earn more: in 2026, the dilemma remains for savers. Between bank accounts, life insurance and retirement investments, everyone plays their own role.
Investing your money today no longer comes down to choosing between letting your savings sit in a current account or blocking them for years. The French juggle several objectives at the same time: keeping a reserve available in the event of an unforeseen event, growing capital and, increasingly, preparing for retirement. It is in this context that the question of yield comes up again and again, with the idea that there is a product that is clearly more interesting than the others.
The reality is more nuanced, because not all investments serve the same purpose. Margot Vauquelin, account manager at Axa Épargne et Protection, makes an essential distinction: “It is necessary to differentiate here between bank savings and insurance savings for several reasons. The return on life insurance, for example, will vary depending on the investment duration and the desired risk profile.” As for the simplest solutions, she cites a product well known to low-income households: “For bank savings, I am thinking of the Popular Savings Booklet (LEP) which currently has a yield of 2.5%, secure, but which is not accessible to everyone since it is conditional on an income ceiling.” Regulated savings books such as the Livret A or the LEP therefore primarily serve to keep money safe, with a fixed rate and free access to funds. They are reassuring and remain easy to understand, but they are not designed to significantly increase savings.
Two other criteria also count when choosing an investment: being able to recover your money if necessary and organizing its transmission. The specialist then specifies: “The major advantage of life insurance is transmission”. It allows you to choose the beneficiaries, while benefiting from a specific tax framework. What’s more, when you accept a share of investment in the financial markets over time, it becomes particularly profitable. “It’s the French people’s favorite placement,” she summarizes. This support combines potential yield, flexible security, availability of money and advantages in the event of transfer, so it generally stands out as the most complete solution for putting your savings to work today.
Note, however, that as soon as you can let your money work longer, the Retirement Savings Plan can also bring big returns. “For a long-term objective and to prepare for retirement, the PER with a predominantly unit-of-account composition can be relevant, especially as it can generate tax advantages in addition to its profitability”concludes Margot Vauquelin.
