What is the star placement of the moment for the French? This is one of the questions at which the eleventh edition of the study “The French, savings and retirement” is trying to answer. To the question “What investment do you consider interesting?”, 76% of participants – among savers – replied “yes” when it was life insurance. A plebiscite which is reflected in the collection figures for this savings product – which have been in record records since the start of the year -, in particular to the detriment of another savings product, however popular, the booklet A, which, in this barometer is no longer judged “interesting” only by 60% of savers. Sign “That the French have a good appreciation of the evolution of the yield of these products”note Philippe Crevel, director of the circle of savings.
But is this first place deserved? In other words, do the French make the right choice by focusing on life insurance? In terms of risk -free placement, it is possible. Indeed, faced with booklet A, which should see its rate drop to 1.7% on August 1, Life funds in euros today seems more remunerative, with an average of 2.6% served in 2024. However, beware, this is an average return (certain contracts do much better, and other less property), and given gross taxation, unlike the rate of booklet A, which is always exempt from taxes. Finally, unlike the latter, whose rate is known at any time, it is impossible to know how much your life insurance has reported on the year before the start of the following year.
Please note, life insurance also has an unmarked part
In addition, in life insurance, only the party invested in euros funds turns out to be as a booklet, guaranteed in capital (without loss of money as possible). This is not the case if you place your savings on account units (UC), invested in shares, real estate, unlisted companies, etc. The retirement savings plan (PER) cited by 62% of French people as “interesting” operates on the same principle between euros and units of account. Unlike other investments subject to respondents, with which it is possible to lose all or part of its capital, but for higher performance promises.
Just behind life insurance, we find for example rental investment (considered “interesting” by 69% of savers). If the risk level is higher, profitability can indeed reach 6% to 7% in certain cities. More surprisingly, the actions only arrive at the penultimate place in terms of attractiveness for the French, with 57% of positive feelings expressed by savers. However, it is the most efficient investment over the long term, with a performance of 11.8% on average per year over the last forty years (1984-2024), according to data from the Institute of Real Estate and Land Savings (IEIF).
Finally, at the tail of the peloton, and it is notable, cryptocurrencies are considered to be worthy of interest by a quarter of the savers surveyed (the proportion even reaches 51% in the 18-24). Here too, performance can be much higher than that of life insurance (Bitcoin increased by 130% in 2024 …) but with a level of volatility (upward and downward variation). Russian mountains compared to the peaceful carousel of life insurance!
