Many Australian investors want the benefits of global diversification, income, and growth — but without the hassle of picking individual stocks or monitoring dozens of positions.
That's where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come in.
With just three carefully selected ASX ETFs, it is possible to create a long-term, balanced investment portfolio that spans the local market, the U.S., and the fast-growing Asian tech sector.
Let's look at how this simple but powerful portfolio might be built.
Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)
Every Australian investor should probably have at least some exposure to the local market, and the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF makes that easy. This ASX ETF tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index, providing instant access to a diversified portfolio of Australia's largest listed companies.
Of course, investors get the big names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), but it also includes solid second-tier companies across sectors like retail, infrastructure, and property. It is a good way to tap into the dividend income that Australia is known for, while also benefiting from potential long-term capital growth.
iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
To complement your Australian holdings, it makes sense to look overseas — and there's no bigger market than the US. The iShares S&P 500 ETF gives investors exposure to the 500 largest US companies by market capitalisation.
While the headlines are often dominated by Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), this ASX ETF also includes consumer powerhouses like Walmart (NYSE: WMT), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), and financial giants like Bank of America (NYSE: BAC).
These are strong, global businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and pricing power. They may not be flashy, but they've proven time and again that they can grow earnings steadily through all kinds of market cycles.
Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)
Finally, for growth exposure, the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF offers a unique angle. It focuses on the top tech and innovation leaders in Asia — a region that is home to more than half the world's population and a rising middle class with increasing digital consumption.
This ASX ETF offers exposure to companies like Tencent, Alibaba, and Infosys, as well as rapidly scaling players such as Meituan, PDD Holdings, and Sea Ltd. These are leaders in areas like food delivery, e-commerce, and gaming across China, Southeast Asia, and India. While more volatile than developed markets, this fund captures the energy and upside of economies that are leapfrogging traditional development phases and going digital at record speed.
