In summary...
Wealth management isn't a luxury reserved for the ultra-rich, but rather an engineering discipline designed to align your assets with your life goals. By 2026, it will be based on a 360° audit (civil, tax, economic, and social) and a dynamic asset allocation strategy. The key difference lies in your choice of advisor: independence (such as with a certified independent financial advisor) guarantees the absence of conflicts of interest, while AI (like ALTA by Balmont) provides mathematical precision in simulating your financial trajectories.
What is wealth management?
It's the art of organizing, optimizing, and transferring all your assets (real estate, financial, and business). It serves to meet four fundamental needs: protecting your family, reducing your tax burden, generating supplemental income (retirement), and planning your estate. Its implementation begins with a wealth assessment and continues with a customized advisory mandate, continuously adjusted to reflect changes in tax laws and market conditions.
Imagine Marc and Sophie. At 45, this couple of expatriate executives owns an apartment in Lyon, a "standard" assurance-vie policy with their local bank, and a few shares accumulated through bonuses. On paper, their situation is healthy. Yet, Marc and Sophie are suffering from... scattering syndrome. Their assets are disconnected, their property taxes are eating away at their profitability, and they have no idea what their real retirement income will be.
This is where saving ends and the... begins wealth management. At the house of Balmont Conseil, We don't sell products; we build architectures. In a financial world saturated with information, my role is to be your wealth conductor, transforming a heterogeneous inventory into a precise strategy.
At the house of Balmont Conseil, We don't see your wealth management as a mere administrative formality. We treat it as a Optimizing your financial assets and your tax situation with detail and high precision. With ALTA, my Augmented Wealth Engineer, my mission is to transform your wealth into a massive capitalization lever, thanks to flawless legal and financial security.
What is wealth management and what is its purpose?
There wealth management is much more than simply accumulating financial investments. It is a cross-disciplinary engineering field that involves analyzing, structuring, and managing all the assets and liabilities of an individual or a family. At Balmont Conseil, We do not see your assets as a list of bank accounts, but as a living architecture that must withstand economic storms and legislative changes.
A wealth management strategy A portfolio worthy of the name is not limited to its performance. It encompasses four inseparable dimensions:
The different types of wealth Beyond real estate
Managing your assets starts with knowing what you actually own. Balmont Conseil, We classify your assets according to their nature, but above all according to their ""velocity"" (their actual liquidity) and their tax sensitivity. A balanced portfolio in 2026 can no longer rely on a single pillar.
Financial and Professional Assets: Your Engine for Growth
This is the reactive core of your strategy. It brings together your tax-advantaged investment vehicles (assurance-vie, PEA, PER) which serve as receptacles for your investments financiers.
For entrepreneurs, the professional assets Your company is often your most valuable asset, yet paradoxically the most neglected. It's not just your working tool; it's a financial asset that needs to be structured for the future.
- The Holding Company's strategy: We often recommend setting up a holding company to isolate the value of the business. This allows for the efficient reinvestment of dividends or proceeds from the sale of assets (via the contribution-sale mechanism 150-0 B ter) without incurring immediate income tax.
- Optimizing workflows: Thanks to our AI ALTA, we analyze the "bundle of indicators" which allows us to determine if your holding company is truly active, a sine qua non condition for benefiting from major exemptions such as the Dutreil Pact.
Real Estate Assets: Between Return and Regulatory Risk
Real estate remains the cornerstone of French households (primary residence, furnished rental properties, Pinel or Denormandie schemes). However, in 2026, direct real estate ownership will face unprecedented pressure: environmental standards (energy performance certificates), rent control, and property tax instability.
- The "Pierre-Papier" (SCPI): For our expatriate clients or very busy executives, we often favor the SCPI yield. They offer geographical diversification (particularly European to avoid French social security contributions) and fully delegated management.
Diversification Portfolio: Tangible Assets
Finally, let's not forget diversification assets: works of art, rare collections, antiques or luxury watches.
These "tangible assets" are not just pleasures; they play a role as a safe haven and a total decorrelation from financial markets.
During periods of high volatility, a collection of prestigious watches or shares in a fund of Private Equity (unlisted) can stabilize the overall performance of your portfolio.
Comparative table: Types of wealth
| Type of Wealth | Examples of Assets | Main Objective |
| Financial Assets | Assurance-vie, PEA (equity savings plan), securities account, savings accounts | Liquidity and Growth |
| Real Estate Assets | Primary residence, furnished rental property (LMNP), real estate investment trust (SCPI), rental properties | Income and Inheritance |
| Professional Assets | Shares, Holding company, Business assets | Value creation and working tool |
| Movable Wealth | Works of art, Luxury watches, Jewelry, Gold | Diversification and Pleasure |
| Intangible Wealth | Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights | Intellectual property rent |
Warning A "monolithic" asset base (100% in real estate or 100% in cash) is a vulnerable asset base. An error in structuring your business assets before a sale can cost you up to 30% of your net capital after taxes. This configuration depends on your family situation and applicable international agreements.
Alexis Sagnier's opinion: "Fluidity is the new security""
"Diversification is no longer an option in 2026; it's a matter of survival. Assets too heavily invested in French real estate are now subject to constant regulatory and tax risks. My role is to provide liquidity through 'portable' financial assets, such as...""Luxembourg assurance-vie.
Thanks to our technology ALTA, We test the resilience of your allocation: if tomorrow the housing market stagnates but the US markets soar, your portfolio must be able to capture this growth without being hampered by exit fees or endless selling delays. Modern wealth management is the art of remaining agile in a world of constraints.
The Wealth Assessment: The Essential 360° Audit
In the medical field, no remedy is prescribed without a complete biological diagnosis. wealth management, The rule is the same. asset assessment is not a mere regulatory formality; it is the foundational step, the "black box" that allows you to understand why your current situation may not withstand the challenges of tomorrow.
Too often, new customers arrive at Balmont Conseil with a financial product under their arm (an old assurance-vie policy or a Pinel apartment) without knowing how this asset fits into their overall strategy. Our role is to move from an inventory of products to a consistency analysis based on a a body of evidence legal, tax and financial.
Is your wealth architecture up to date?
An assessment carried out "online" or via an automated 100% interface is dangerous. AI produces data, but only a wealth management advisor can interpret the ambiguities in your civil status. An error in the settings of your objectives can negate all your future tax benefits.
The wealth assessment is the moment when we stop assuming and start knowing. My role is to uncover hidden risks. In 2026, with the instability of international tax treaties, an audit that doesn't incorporate the cross-border dimension is an incomplete audit. Thanks to ALTA, we transform a mass of indigestible documents into a wealth management strategy clear, visual and above all, immediately activatable.
HR Engineering and Social Costs:
What the employer needs to know
L''implementation of expatriation schemes It is not limited to the employee's payslip. It directly impacts the company's HR strategy and cost structure.
Choosing your advisor: Financial Advisor, Retail Bank or Independent Financial Advisor?
This is where the greatest challenge of transparency lies. Too often, the title of "advisor" masks a purely commercial reality. In France, there are three main categories of professionals who manage your assets, but their interests are not always aligned with yours. For an executive or manager, understanding how their advisor is paid is the first step towards a wealth management strategy healthy.
Network Banks: The Closed Architecture Model
A bank advisor is first and foremost an employee. Their role is to distribute the bank's own products (those of the bank or its insurance subsidiaries).
- The limit: The catalog is limited. If an opportunity arises... Private Equity or a SCPI If it's outside the group, it performs better; he won't be able to offer it to you.
- The risk: The high turnover of advisors often prevents the essential long-term follow-up in wealth management.
The CGPI: The fee and open architecture model
This is the model we chose. One CGPI (Independent Wealth Management Advisor), within the meaning of the MIF 2 regulation, must be free of any capital link with product suppliers.
- Remuneration: We operate primarily on consulting fees (engagement letter). Like a lawyer or an accountant, you pay for an expertise, not for the purchase of a product.
- Open architecture: This status allows us to scan the entire global market. If the best investment fund is in New York or Luxembourg, we have access to it for you.
The "Traditional" CGP: A facade of independence
Many firms claim to be independent because they are not affiliated with a bank. However, they operate on a model of commissions and kickbacks.
- The mechanism: The advisor is paid by the banks and insurers whose products he sells.
- The bias: A conflict of interest can arise: between two investments, the advisor may be tempted to favor the one offering the highest commission. Balmont Conseil, We believe that this lack of transparency is detrimental to the quality of the engineering.
Regulatory guarantees: Never compromise on safety
A firm's credibility isn't something that can be declared; it's proven by its accreditations. Before entrusting them with a single penny or confidential information, verify these checkpoints:
- The CIF (Financial Investment Advisor) status: This is the key issued by the'AMF (Financial Markets Authority).
- Registration with ORIAS: The single register of intermediaries in insurance, banking and finance.
- Membership in an approved association: Like the’ANACOFI, which regularly monitors our procedures and continuing education.
Alexis Sagnier's Verbatim
Independence isn't a slogan, it's a cost structure. By choosing our fees, we align our interests with yours: our sole focus becomes the performance of your net-of-fee assets. Thanks to our technology ALTA, We compare hidden contract fees in real time to select only the most competitive offers. By 2026, total transparency is the only possible basis for a lasting relationship of trust."
Products & Solutions Building your Wealth Allocation
Once the strategy is validated, it's time to select the tools. In my line of work, a product is never an end in itself; it's a building block in a larger structure. Too many savers make the mistake of "collecting" investments without any coherence.
At the house of Balmont Conseil, we build your asset allocation depending on your time horizon and your risk profile, using exclusively open architecture.
Tax-advantaged Envelopes: Choosing the right "container""
Before choosing where to invest, you must choose the legal and tax framework. This is what we call investment vehicles.
- Assurance-vie (French or Luxembourg): It's the Swiss Army knife. It allows you to accumulate capital tax-free (excluding withdrawals) and remains the tool of transmission The most powerful (abatements under article 990 I). For our wealthy or expatriate clients, we favor the’Luxembourg assurance-vie for its tax neutrality and its "Super Privilege" (absolute protection of assets).
- The PEA (Equity Savings Plan): The ideal tool to boost your financial assets with European shares, while benefiting from tax exemption on gains after 5 years.
- The Securities Account: Although less fiscally advantageous, it is nevertheless essential for accessing global markets (USA, Asia) and specific themes (technology, health) without the constraints of PEA eligibility.
Wealth Real Estate: Stone in all its forms
Real estate should be considered according to your management capacity.
- SCPIs (Société Civile de Placement Immobilier): This is the solution we recommend for 90% of our expatriate clients. You invest in commercial real estate (offices, logistics, healthcare) with 100% delegated management.
- Niche real estate (LMNP, Bare Ownership): To optimize your wealth tax or generate tax-free income, we source programs in bare ownership or in LMNP old with solid commercial leases.
Private Equity: Access to Unlisted Companies
By 2026, performance will no longer be found solely in the stock market. Private Equity (investment in unlisted companies) has become a pillar of private wealth management.
It allows for higher returns by financing the real economy, with often less volatility than traditional financial markets.
We integrate these solutions via FPCI or within your assurance-vie contracts.
ALTA AI for fund selection
Why go through the first AI-enhanced wealth management firm For your investments? Because fund selection is a data science. ALTA scans thousands of UCITS funds in real time.'ETFs (trackers) and management funds to identify:
- The Performance Indicator Bundle: We eliminate funds that outperform by "luck" to retain only those with consistent management.
- The hunt for hidden costs: AI detects the overlapping layers of fees that are eating away at your net-net yield.
- Instant matching: As soon as a line item in your portfolio deviates from your risk profile, ALTA alerts us to take action. arbitration.
Expert's warning: Beware of "one-off" tax-saving products (such as the Girardin scheme or certain FIPs). While the tax advantage may be immediate, the capital loss can be total if the investment vehicle is not rigorously audited. An investment must first be financially sound before it can be tax-efficient.
Taxation and Inheritance: The Heart of Wealth Planning
If asset allocation is the driving force behind your wealth, the taxation and the transmission The chassis and steering are its components. In France, the State often invites itself as the most greedy heir to the family table, taking up to 45 % in direct line, and up to 60 % for third parties or distant relatives.
At the house of Balmont Conseil, We believe that paying taxes is an option, not an inevitability. Estate planning involves using legal mechanisms to ensure that your capital remains, when the time comes, in the hands of those you have chosen to protect.
Tax Optimization: Seeking "Net-Net" Efficiency"
L''tax optimization It is not about "cheating," but about choosing the most efficient path between two legal options. For an executive or manager, the goal is to maximize the net-net yield : the amount that remains after expenses, inflation and taxes.
- Tax Planning: We analyze your "set of indicators" (rental income, dividends, capital gains) to activate levers such as the property deficit, the LMNP (Non-Professional Furnished Rental) scheme to depreciate your assets, or the use of the PER to eliminate your tax brackets at 41 % or 45 %.
- The Risk of Reclassification: Be aware that the tax authorities are watching. A scheme lacking economic substance can be reclassified as "tax avoidance." This is where Alexis Sagnier's human expertise is crucial to validate the legal soundness of each option proposed by our AI.
Transmission: Anticipating to avoid being affected
Passing on one's wealth is an act of love, but it is also a complex logistical challenge, especially in a context of international mobility.
- The Division of Ownership: It's one of our favorite tools. By giving the bare ownership of your assets (real estate or financial) while retaining the'usufruct (income and usage), you automatically reduce the taxable base. Upon death, the usufruct merges with the bare ownership without any additional taxes to be paid.
- Life Insurance: Outside of Inheritance (or almost): The provisions of Article 990 I of the French General Tax Code (CGI) allow for the transfer of up to €152,500 per beneficiary without inheritance tax (for premiums paid before age 70). For large sums of money, this is an unparalleled transfer tool.
- The Dutreil Pact: The leader's shield: For business leaders, the implementation of a Dutreil Pact This allows for a 75% reduction in the company's value upon transfer. In 2026, with the revaluation of business assets, this scheme is the only guarantee of long-term viability for family businesses.
ALTA AI at the service of your legacy
Why entrust your business transfer to our first AI-enhanced wealth management firm Because calculating transfer taxes is a precise science. ALTA allows us to:
- Quantifying the Inevitable: Calculate to the nearest cent what your heirs would have to pay to the State if nothing is done today.
- Simulate Optimization: Project the real economy generated by a donation-partage or a change of matrimonial regime.
- Anticipating conflicts of laws: For our expatriate clients, AI scans European regulations and bilateral conventions to determine which law (national or domicile) will apply to your bank accounts and properties.
If asset allocation is the driving force behind your wealth, the taxation and the transmission The chassis and steering are its components. In France, the State often invites itself as the most greedy heir to the family table, taking up to 45 % in direct line, and up to 60 % for third parties or distant relatives.
At the house of Balmont Conseil, We believe that paying taxes is an option, not an inevitability. Estate planning involves using legal mechanisms to ensure that your capital remains, when the time comes, in the hands of those you have chosen to protect.
Expert's warning: ""Warning: A poorly drafted beneficiary clause can turn a tax advantage into a legal nightmare. Similarly, a gift made without prior advice can prematurely deprive you of your assets. Optimization should never be at the expense of your own quality of life.""
""In 2026, inheritance is no longer a 'end of life' issue, it's a flow management issue. My role is to ensure that you retain control (usufruct) while preparing for the exit (bare ownership). Thanks to ALTA, we uncover the hidden costs of your succession. We don't just tell you to open a assurance-vie policy; we build a structure where every euro is earmarked to minimize your family's overall tax burden. Financial peace of mind means knowing that your inheritance will benefit your loved ones, not the state budget."
Regulations and Compliance: Your Protection
Wealth management is not a legal "grey area." It is one of the most regulated professions in France. For a senior executive or an expatriate, compliance is not a bureaucratic constraint, it is the legal shield which guarantees that your assets are managed with integrity, competence and transparency.
At the house of Balmont Conseil, We believe that the security of your assets begins with the rigor of our approvals.
The Keys to Trust: CIF, ORIAS and AMF
A serious consultant is not satisfied with just a business card. They must hold regulated and audited statuses:
- The CIF (Financial Investment Advisor) status: Placed under the authority of the'AMF (Financial Markets Authority), this status obliges us to total transparency on our selection methods and to rigorous management of conflicts of interest.
- Registration with ORIAS: This is the unique register that certifies our ability to act as an insurance intermediary (IAS) and a banking intermediary (IOBSP). Without this number, an advisor is not legally authorized to offer you assurance-vie or a mortgage.
- Membership in ANACOFI: As a member of the’National Association of Financial Advisors, We are subject to regular checks and a continuing education requirement (minimum 25 hours per year) to keep up with the changes in the 2026 finance law.
Documentary Transparency: The pillars of our relationship
The regulatory framework imposes strict formalities that ensure your protection at each stage of the mandate:
- The DER (Customer Entry Document): This is our professional "identity card". It is given to you during our first contact and details our statutes, our professional liability insurance and the list of our partners.
- The Letter of Mission: This is the contract that binds us. It precisely defines the scope of our intervention (audit, advice, monitoring) and, crucially, our method of remuneration (fees and/or commissions).
- The Suitability Report: Before any subscription, we provide you with this document which mathematically justifies why the proposed solution is the most suitable for your risk profile and objectives.
"Augmented" Compliance: AI at the Service of Ethics
Why go through the first AI-enhanced wealth management firm For your safety? Because regulations evolve faster than human memory. ALTA, Our proprietary AI continuously scans for regulatory updates and AMF alerts.
- Anti-money laundering (AML/CFT): We use technology to verify the origin of funds and secure your international transactions, thus protecting you against any risk of unintentional complicity.
- GDPR and Data Protection: Your financial information is sensitive. ALTA processes your data in an encrypted and sovereign environment. Unlike "open" AI tools, your family secrets and revenue figures are never used to train public models.
FAQ Key questions from our clients
Serenity is a matter of method
Wealth management is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Markets fluctuate, laws change, but a strategy firmly rooted in solid civil and tax fundamentals can withstand any storm.
My role is to bring you this peace of mind by putting the power of ALTA AI and my expertise as a wealth management engineer at the service of your family.
Do you want to transform your assets into a true life strategy?
Alexis Sagnier
With over 17 years of expertise in financial engineering, Alexis Sagnier assists executives and expatriates in securing their cross-border challenges.
Sources & References:
