The economic situation has impacted the savings behavior of high earners in a fairly comparable way to other French people: this is shown by an Opinionway survey for SwissLife Banque Privée which questioned a panel of individuals – well-to-do, very well-off, and representative of the French population – on their investment strategies and their perceptions of the current economic environment.
According to this survey, while the wealthiest French people stand out from the general public* with a stronger intention to save and greater optimism about the future, caution is required in everyone’s investment decisions. savers, regardless of their level of income and wealth.
More than seven affluent** and very affluent*** households out of ten, as well as 68% of the general public, say they are more vigilant in their choice of investments than before, mainly due to the rise in interest rates (73%), inflation (72%), but also the war in Ukraine (57%).
Performance and security
In this context, the performance and security of an investment are the first two investment choice criteria cited by respondents, both among “well-to-do” people (cited respectively as priority elements of choice at 59% and 56% %) than that of the general public (at 32% and 53%).
But the two “groups” differ, on the other hand, on the following criteria. For affluent investors, the risk-reward ratio is on a par with performance. The trend of the financial markets is the fourth criterion for investment choice cited (31%), ahead of the advice of their financial intermediary (26%);
For the general public, it is the speed of gain that comes in third place (28%), tied with the advice of a banker, and ahead of the risk-return ratio (26%) – which reveals, quite logically, a different degree of financial acculturation between these categories of savers.
impact and csr
Strongly highlighted to the general public since the health crisis, “impact” and corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) also appear as a backdrop in the investment strategies of the French.
This sensitivity, in particular for impact products and the environmental theme, is very clear among the wealthiest, and especially among business leaders in this same income bracket, who seem to be affected by the economic situation. more than any socio-professional category », Underlines the survey. 79% of these bosses also plan to strengthen their company’s CSR strategy over the next twelve months, and 76% to increase their investments.
always real estate…
Real estate (49%), equities (41%), funds in euros (30%) and tax exemption products (30%) are considered to be the most relevant media at the moment for wealthy French people (and senior assets, at comparable levels), followed by SCPIs (25%), France Relance funds (21%) and bonds (20%) which have regained their appeal with the rise in their yields.
Despite a market tending to seize up in certain segments (housing, logistics assets, etc.) and very tough credit access conditions, ” the appetite of high incomes for real estate remains strong, and we are in great demand for financial advice and wealth strategy for this highly diversified asset class”, notes Hervé Mercier Ythier, Chairman of the Management Board of SwissLife Banque Privée. For those who have the (large) means, real estate would still present very good opportunities, ” with currently highly valued niches, in luxury, prime Parisian real estate, or via repurchase sale transactions, for example.»
*Sample of 1026 adult respondents, representative of the French population.
**with more than €70,000 in net income and financial assets of more than €105,000.
***The “high earners”, with more than €70,000 in net income and whose financial assets exceed €500,000.