How to invest in ASX shares if you only have 30 minutes a month

You don't need to spend hours on investing to be successful.

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If your schedule is filled to the brim but you still want to grow your wealth through the share market, the good news is you don't need to spend hours each week researching and trading.

With a simple, disciplined approach, you can manage and grow a successful ASX share portfolio in about half an hour a month. Here's how you can do it:

Focus on quality ASX shares

I would suggest choosing a small group of high quality ASX shares or exchange traded funds (ETFs) that you are comfortable to hold onto for years. This could be as simple as two or three diversified ETFs — for example, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) for local exposure and the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) for global growth.

If you prefer individual companies, look for blue chip shares with fair valuations, strong competitive advantages, and reliable earnings, such as CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), or WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

Automate your investing

You might want to look at setting up an automatic transfer into your brokerage account each month and invest on a set schedule, regardless of market conditions.

This dollar-cost averaging approach ensures you're consistently building your portfolio without second-guessing market moves.

Reinvest your dividends

Activate dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs) for your holdings so that any income is automatically used to buy more shares.

This keeps your money working for you and boosts the compounding effect over time — no extra effort required.

Monthly check-in

Once a month, I would suggest spending around 30 minutes reviewing your portfolio.

During this process, you might want to look for any big changes to your holdings, read any company or ETF updates, and make your scheduled investment.

And unless something major has changed with a company's fundamentals or investment thesis, resist the urge to tinker with your holdings. After all, one of the best things you can do with compounding is to not interrupt it.

Foolish takeaway

By focusing on a core set of quality ASX share investments, automating your contributions, and scheduling a brief monthly review, it is more than possible to build a strong ASX share portfolio without devoting hours to the market.

Over time, this consistent, low-maintenance approach can lead to impressive long-term results — and all it takes is 30 minutes a month of your time.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL, Goodman Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Goodman Group, WiseTech Global, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Goodman Group, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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