The 2025 Dilemma: Safety or Returns for French Investors

A recent study conducted by Mon Petit Placement, the Lyon-based fintech company specializing in investment, sheds light on French people’s savings habits and aspirations for 2025. This survey reveals marked differences based on age and gender, as well as revealing paradoxes in behavior: while the French aspire to high returns, their need for security remains paramount. An in-depth look.
 

Return vs. Safety: A Recurring Dilemma
When it comes to investment choices, return and safety are the top criteria for most French people. However, despite a growing interest in more dynamic savings products, a large proportion of savers are hesitant to take the plunge. Life insurance, the preferred investment of 72% of the French, illustrates this paradox: 56% of policyholders opt for a mix of euro-denominated funds (secure) and unit-linked funds (riskier), demonstrating a desire to strike a balance between caution and ambition.
 

When asked about their preferences if their ability to save increased, 73% of French people said they would want to invest in high-growth products, such as stocks or cryptocurrencies. However, these intentions do not always translate into action. Younger generations, however, show a greater appetite for risk.
 

Women’s Savings: A Clear Preference for Caution
Savings behaviors differ significantly by gender. Women prefer safe investments, with a majority (38%) citing savings accounts as their primary investment vehicle, compared to 29% of men. This trend can be explained by a greater desire to have a safety net, even though increasing their capital remains their primary goal.
 

Men, on the other hand, are more likely to diversify their investments and invest in higher-risk vehicles. Thirty-one percent of men hold life insurance policies consisting solely of unit-linked products, compared with 22 percent of women. This difference is also reflected in the amounts invested: on average, men have €42,000 more than women in their life insurance policies.
 

However, once they feel confident in their choices, women tend to be more thoughtful and less likely to react impulsively to market fluctuations—a valuable quality in volatile financial environments.
 

Generational Divides: Age, a Key Factor
The study reveals that age is a major determinant of savings behavior. The youngest group (under 25) predominantly turns to savings accounts: 72% regularly deposit their money there, due to a lack of resources or sufficient knowledge to explore other options. Conversely, only 36% of those over 55 use these savings vehicles.
The age of 35 appears to be a pivotal point, marking a shift in financial priorities. It is from this age onward that life insurance becomes the primary savings vehicle for the French, with the amounts invested increasing significantly. Those under 35 still favor unit-linked policies, reflecting a higher tolerance for risk. In contrast, as people age, the emphasis shifts toward security, with a clear preference for euro-denominated funds.
Younger generations also stand out for their growing adoption of modern products such as cryptocurrencies and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Nearly 37% of those under 25 hold a portfolio consisting exclusively of unit-linked products, a proportion that drops to 17% among those over 55.
 

Common Goals, Diverse Behaviors
Despite these differences related to gender and age, savers share common aspirations for 2025:
• Grow their capital over the long term (73%),
• Plan for retirement (39%),
• Build an emergency fund (39%).
While the pursuit of returns is the primary focus, security remains an essential criterion, cited by 44% of respondents, ahead of factors such as taxation or the impact of investments.
 

Financial Education: A Catalyst for Change
According to Thomas Perret, CEO of Mon Petit Placement, these results confirm the importance of education in helping French people optimize their financial choices:
“Financial education is the key to success. Our support efforts have enabled 20% of our clients to switch to more dynamic products in just one year, while staying true to their individual goals.”
 

Through this study, Mon Petit Placement highlights its personalized approach, which is designed to meet the diverse needs of investors—whether they are young, older, beginners, or experts. This work is essential to helping everyone better balance security and returns in their investment decisions.