French retirement and life insurance savings

Financial planning in France involves various savings instruments, notably retirement savings plans (PER) and life insurance (assurance vie).

Retirement savings plans often utilize managed management to delegate investment decisions to professionals. Key considerations for these plans include minimizing management fees and accessing diverse investment supports.

Life insurance serves as a versatile tool for capital accumulation and liquidity, offering options such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. While unit-linked investments reached a 39% share of contributions in 2025, some savers prefer capital-guaranteed euro funds. Although the average yield for euro funds in 2025 was 2.63%, certain specific contracts significantly outperformed this average.

Taxation for life insurance is characterized by the ability to defer taxes until withdrawals occur. Inheritance tax implications are determined by the age of the policyholder at the time of premium payments. Contributions made before age 70 allow beneficiaries to utilize a tax allowance of up to €152,500 per person, whereas contributions made after age 70 do not benefit from this specific favorable framework.