In France, savings have never been higher… yet investment is still progressing only slowly. In an uncertain economic and geopolitical environment, how can we explain this persistent gap between the capacity to save and taking action? This was the central question of the conference organized by Quicksign and Finance Innovation at the Palais Brongniart. A morning of practical discussions with industry players to decode the barriers, emerging behaviors, and real levers for democratizing investment.
A Morning at Palais Brongniart to Shed Light on the Challenges of Saving and Investing
An economic context that encourages saving… without triggering investment
The figures presented during the event paint a clear picture. In 2025, the household savings rate in France reached 18.8% of income, compared with around 14% in 2020 (INSEE). 78% of French people say they have set money aside over the past 18 months (AMF), and household financial wealth represents nearly twice the level of public debt.
Yet this savings is still largely directed toward low-risk supports: bank deposits, savings accounts, and life insurance absorb most of the flows, while equities account for only a minor share.
Leading market players brought together to compare perspectives on the French market
To analyze this gap between abundant savings and limited investment, Quicksign and Finance Innovation brought together three major online investment players:
Julien Nebenzahl, President of eToro Patrimoine
Catherine Nini, President of the Executive Board of Bourse Direct
Fabien Keryell, General director at France of Saxo Bank
Moderated by Hugo Ferrand (Quicksign), the roundtable enabled participants to share concrete feedback on customer journeys, the evolution of investor profiles, and ongoing transformations across platforms.
A shared ambition: providing pragmatic insight into French the market
Beyond the numbers, the objective of the conference was clear: to move past theoretical analyses and understand what truly works in practice. Discussions highlighted a shared conviction: transforming savings into investment is above all a matter of experience, education, and trust.
From Saving to Investing: Key Takeaways and Perspectives for the Industry
Deep-rooted barriers among savers
The discussions confirmed several persistent obstacles to investing:
a still-limited financial literacy,
a structural preference for real estate,
a high perception of risk,
frequent confusion between long-term investment and speculation.
“Most French people think investing is reserved for an elite, either a financial elite or experts. By communicating, training, and educating, we can overcome these barriers.”
– Julien Nebenzahl
Despite a positive dynamic — 216,000 new equity investors and 246,000 new ETF investors in 2024 — only 1.7 million French people are currently considered active investors.
User experience as the central lever for democratizing investment
A clear consensus emerged: democratizing investment depends far more on usage and user experience than on multiplying financial products. Platforms have evolved significantly in recent years:
100% digital account-opening journeys,
simplified access to multi-asset and international markets,
integrated educational tools,
features designed to support investors over the long term.
The impact is measurable. At Bourse Direct, 35% of accounts are now held by people under 35, compared with 18% in 2019.
Digital onboarding and trust: a key challenge for Quicksign
The regulatory environment is increasingly demanding. It leads investors to expect more simplicity and transparency. Therefore, digital onboarding plays a decisive role. A smooth, compliant, and educational journey from the onboarding conditions the ability to turn a cautious saver into a committed investor.
This is precisely where Quicksign supports financial players: designing access journeys to investment that are simple for users, robust from a regulatory standpoint, and trust-building from the very first touchpoints.
Conclusion: Tomorrow’s investing starts with the first journey
This conference proved it: individual investment will continue to grow, driven by changing behaviors and expectations of new generations. But its sustainable, widespread adoption rests on three inseparable pillars: understanding, accessibility, and trust.
It is at the intersection of these challenges that the future of investment platforms will be shaped — and their ability to turn abundant savings into useful and high-performing investment.
