60 million consumers alert on the very high costs of retirement savings plans

The magazine 60 million consumers alerted this Thursday to the very high costs of certain retirement savings plans (PER) and which directly reduce the returns of these contracts. Of the 26 PERs scrutinized by 60 million consumers, a large majority impose significant fees at the time of payment, in the event of arbitration to change the distribution of its funds and at the time of payment of the annuity. To all these fees are added annual management fees, which can reach 2%.

Launched a year ago, the retirement savings plan makes it possible to tax the funds placed to build up additional income at the time of retirement, and aims to replace the various systems that have coexisted until then (Perp, Perco, article 83, Madelin , etc.).

Payment fees of up to 5%

“With so many costs, it’s difficult to have a savings product that grows,” warned Lionel Maugain, journalist for 60 million consumers, at a press conference. Regarding the payment fees, they range from 0 to 5% and for the most expensive, it may take several years of returns to recover the amount invested.

But, warns Stéphanie Truquin, economist at the National Institute of Consumption, the payment fees are “easily negotiable” and you must “not hesitate to ask your advisor to negotiate to put them at 0%”. In general, the review advises to focus on online contracts, banks and insurance companies offering the most expensive products.

“Big blow of the club when we arrive in retreat”

One of the advantages of PER is that you can transfer your contract to another establishment. But when it is less than 5 years old, fees are often applied, to which must be added those of the installments of the new contract which will receive the funds. If the retirement savings plan makes it possible to tax the funds paid out, “beware of the big blow when you retire”, also underlines Lionel Maugain.

Indeed, at the time of withdrawal from the capital, the saver is taxed, the advantage being located in the fact that the income at the time of retirement, and therefore the tax rate, are often lower than at the time of retirement. active life. This device is therefore aimed more at savers with significant incomes.