Live offers across tracked providers in France — updated daily from the Giraffy database.
What are pensions in France?
Alongside France's state pension (retraite de base plus complementary Agirc-Arrco points), individuals build private retirement savings mainly through the Plan d'Épargne Retraite (PER), introduced by the loi PACTE in 2019 to replace older products such as the PERP and Madelin. A PER is a long-term wrapper: you pay in during your working life, the money is invested, and it is released as capital, an annuity, or a mix when you retire.
How the French market works
PER individuel plans are distributed by insurers, banks and digital wealth managers. Traditional insurers such as Generali France, Swiss Life France and bancassurers like Crédit Agricole offer contracts combining a capital-guaranteed fonds euros with market-linked unités de compte. A newer wave of online managers — Nalo, Yomoni, Goodvest and Fortuneo — run low-cost, ETF-based managed portfolios, while brokers such as Trade Republic have pushed fees down further. Contributions are typically deductible from taxable income up to annual ceilings, which is the plan's core attraction for higher-rate taxpayers. Employers may also run collective plans (PER collectif and PER obligatoire) that receive employee savings and company top-ups (abondement), and older PERP, Madelin and Article 83 contracts can be transferred into the newer PER to consolidate retirement pots. Because the tax relief is proportional to your marginal rate, a PER is generally most efficient for those taxed at 30% or above, while lower-rate savers often prefer the flexibility of assurance-vie.
Benefits
Upfront tax relief — Payments reduce your taxable income within the legal plafond, so the effective cost of saving falls with your marginal rate.
Flexible exit — Since the PACTE reform you can take the balance as a lump sum, an annuity, or both.
Early release for a home — The law allows early withdrawal to buy your main residence, alongside accident-of-life cases.
How to choose
Look first at total fees — entry charges, annual management fees, and per-fund costs, which compound heavily over decades. Compare the range of unités de compte and whether an ETF or gestion pilotée option matches your risk appetite and horizon. Weigh the upfront deduction against the tax due on exit, and check the fonds euros performance and any minimum contribution.
Leading providers in France
Generali France and Swiss Life France anchor the insurer segment; Crédit Agricole (through Predica) is a major bancassurance distributor. For low fees and digital management, Nalo, Yomoni, Goodvest — which emphasises responsible investing — and Fortuneo are widely compared, with Trade Republic offering a stripped-back, low-cost alternative.
What it costs
There is no single price: cost is expressed as annual fees. Legacy insurer contracts can carry entry fees plus management charges above 1% a year, whereas ETF-based online PERs often sit well below that. Because fees erode returns over a multi-decade horizon, the fee level is the single most important number to compare.
Protections and regulation
Insurance-based PERs are supervised by the ACPR, while investment content and marketing fall under the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers). From 2026, finance-act changes tightened the rules — contributions after age 70 are no longer income-tax deductible, and unused deduction ceilings can be carried forward. Insurer-held assets benefit from policyholder protection frameworks, though unités de compte carry market risk with no capital guarantee.
Common questions
Can I access the money before retirement? — Generally no, except for buying a main home or defined hardship cases such as disability or unemployment.
Is a PER better than assurance-vie? — A PER gives upfront tax relief but locks money away; assurance-vie is more flexible. Many savers use both.
What happens on death? — Beneficiary and succession treatment depends on your age at death and the contract type, so confirm the clause bénéficiaire when you sign.
Pensions in France — FAQ
What is the best pension or retirement savings account in France?
Giraffy tracks 5 pension and retirement savings products across Generali France,Fortuneo,AFER,Ramify,Nalo providers in France. Compare by Annual Management Charge (AMC) and investment fund range to find the best fit for your retirement timeline.
What types of pension or retirement accounts are available?
Pension types typically include employer workplace pensions (with contribution matching), personal pensions (self-directed), and government schemes. Check your country's specific rules on contribution limits and tax relief — these vary significantly.
How much should I save for retirement?
A common benchmark is to aim for a retirement income of about 60–80% of your pre-retirement earnings. As a savings target, contributing 15% of your gross income from your mid-20s — including employer contributions — is a widely cited starting point. Pension calculators help model your specific situation.
When can I access my pension or retirement savings?
Retirement savings access ages vary by country and account type. In the UK, pension access starts at age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028). Australia allows access to super from preservation age (currently 60). Check your local rules — early withdrawal penalties and tax consequences can be severe.
What are pension charges and how do they affect my pot?
The Annual Management Charge (AMC) is the ongoing fee on your pension fund — typically 0.1–0.75% per year of your pot's value. On a £100,000 pot, a 0.5% AMC costs £500/year and compounds over time. Over 30 years, a 0.5% difference in charges can reduce your final pot by tens of thousands of pounds.
What is automatic enrolment and do I qualify?
Automatic enrolment means eligible workers are enrolled into a workplace pension without having to opt in — the UK, Australia, Ireland, and several other markets operate similar mandatory or auto-enrolment systems. Employer contributions are effectively 'free money', so opting out generally costs you significantly over time.