Minor’s booklet: these parents trust us!

Passing on wealth means investing in the future. This is what Guillaume and Audrey chose to do by opening a savings account for their children. A father of two children aged 11 and 7, Guillaume wanted to introduce his children to managing their savings from a young age. Audrey, for her part, is the mother of four teenagers aged 16, 14, and 11: for her, the Livret Mineur is a concrete way to pass on the values ​​of responsibility and commitment to them. Like them, more and more parents are trusting our savings account to guide their children towards more sustainable and informed financial management. Discover their feedback!

Can you introduce yourself?

Guillaume: Hello, my name is Guillaume. I live with my little family not far from Bordeaux. I am the proud father of two children: an 11-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. They are very curious and love to discover and learn new things. Explaining the basics of investing to them through math and calculations is a way for me to make learning fun, even if I admit that it sometimes seems a bit long for them.

Audrey: Of course! My name is Audrey M. I live in Paris with my husband and my four children: Mila, 16, Tim, 14, and twins Lizzie and Matt, aged 11.

How did you hear about Enerfip?

Audrey: I was watching the TF1 news when I saw a report on crowdfunding. He was talking about Enerfip, which offered sustainable development projects on its platform in Noirmoutier and the Isle of Yeu, if I remember correctly. Once I finished this report, I checked the government website to see if Enerfip was a secure and recommended platform – because you never know with this kind of thing. At the time, it was new, so I wanted to reassure myself before investing money in it.

What motivated you to open a savings account for your children?

Guillaume: To give a little context, I discovered Enerfip while looking for a “green” savings account for my children. I wanted to build up savings for them – like a youth savings account – but for useful and educational purposes. I wanted to be able to explain to them what their money was for and what project they were supporting.

As an anecdote: one of the first projects they invested in was located a few kilometers from our home. I was able to explain to them concretely what the photovoltaic panels that were installed near Bordeaux would be used for.

Audrey: First, we opened a savings account for my husband and myself. And then, when we realized that we hadn't made any losses, we opened one for the children. All four at the same time, ha ha!

Did you already have any investment experience before opening this savings account?

Guillaume: No, apart from the bank account that my wife opened for my children when they were born. I became interested in investing after a complicated and uncertain professional year. I wanted to prepare for my children's future by saving!

Audrey: A little. We had "classic" products like a bank account, a PEL (Home Savings Plan)... But, nothing on the stock market. So it's money invested and blocked. On the other hand, I found investing on Enerfip very simple: easier to manage than a bank account!

What criteria are the most important for you when selecting an investment?

Guillaume: For me, it's essential to understand the project. I only participate in financing projects that are in line with my values! For my children, I also pay attention to the security and sureties attached to the project.

Audrey: So, you should know that it's my children who choose what they invest in. Of course, they now know how investments work, what a return is... But, now that they're older, they're the ones who select the investments based on their preferred energy, the type of project, the rate, the duration... For my part, I remain at their disposal for any questions and, of course, to access their Enerfip account, because the minor's savings account is linked to the parents'.

Is the return, therefore, secondary for you?

Guillaume: Let's say it's not the first thing I look at. Investing in a 5% project suits me perfectly if it corresponds to my values. I don't need to look for 9% or 10%. Like many people, I'm looking to guarantee and secure my investments... Especially if it's for my children!

How did the process of opening a savings account for minors on Enerfip go?

Guillaume: What I can tell you is that it was very simple. From memory, all you need is your family record book and a few other documents. In short, it's 2 papers and 3 clicks!

Audrey:As I said before, it was super simple! All you had to do was fill in the children's key information, then make a copy of the family record book and a few other documents.

How much did you choose to invest initially, and why this particular amount?

Guillaume: When I created their accounts, I directly invested €500 in each one. The amount is "high" because it was money I had already set aside for them.

Audrey: Each of the children received €100 for their first investment.

Do you remember the first project you invested in?

Guillaume: Yes, it was an offshore wind turbine project near Noirmoutier. My parents live on the island of Oléron, so this project had a special resonance for me. It's a magnificent region that is essential to preserve. Raising my children's awareness about protecting our environment and the development of renewable energies in this area was particularly important to me. In addition, since they know the region well, their curiosity was piqued, and they wanted to know more.

Do you make regular contributions to your children's savings account, or have you opted for a one-off investment?

Guillaume: I regularly invest €50 per month for each of my children.

Audrey: As I explained previously, my children manage their savings account with a lot of autonomy. Each year, they invest between €100 and €300 from their own pockets (pocket money or money received on a special occasion) as they wish. Occasionally, when my husband or I go through our savings account and see interest earned, we pay it back to them to reach the minimum amount of €10. This allows them to reinvest a “small amount”.

Do you or your children decide on their investments?

Guillaume: Given my children's ages, I'm in charge of the decisions for the moment. However, to raise their awareness of renewable energy, I ask their opinion when several interesting projects come up. My daughter, who is a little older, then chooses between solar or wind power, a project in France or Spain, stocks or bonds… My goal is to introduce them until they are 18, so that they can then manage their portfolio independently.

What advantages have you noticed since opening the savings account for minors?

Guillaume: I haven't experienced any defaults! On top of that, my children are starting to accumulate a significant amount in their respective savings accounts. I invest 50 euros per child each month, and every other month, this money is reinvested. In reality, there is less and less to add since it is the interest that makes the amount grow!

Audrey: In addition to being educational, it's a great tool for their independence! Of course, the rates on Enerfip are attractive and the projects sustainable, which is a real added value!

How do you see the money in the savings account for minors being used in the future?

Guillaume: I see it as an investment intended to remain an investment. At 18, they will have an adult savings account, representing available cash, but the idea is not to liquidate everything. I want them to have a portfolio of 5,000 euros! Once they reach adulthood, they can choose to withdraw this money if they wish, but the goal is for them to already have a source of income, with 500 euros coming in each year. This will encourage them to grow their capital, while also collecting interest. In short, it's a bit of a financial education tool!

Audrey:It will be their decision; they can continue to invest or withdraw their money.

Do you think you will continue to contribute to this savings account until your children reach adulthood?

Guillaume: Yes, without hesitation! And I would go even further by encouraging them to continue contributing to it – or at least reinvesting their capital – afterward!

Audrey: Yes, because they play along and appreciate taking action, on their own scale, for tomorrow. We will continue as long as our finances allow!

Are you satisfied with your decision to invest in a savings account for minors and would you recommend this option to other parents?

Guillaume: Yes! And I recommend it regularly, in fact! I've already told my children to do the same thing with their children, ha ha!

Audrey: Yes, I'm satisfied! However, even though I talk about Enerfip to my loved ones, I haven't had the opportunity to recommend the savings account for minors to other parents.