Australians are increasingly favouring ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for long-term investment.
In July alone, Betashares data shows Australian investors poured a record $5.28 billion into ASX ETFs.
The benefits include easy diversification achieved in a single trade, for one brokerage fee, and low ongoing management fees.
As ASX ETFs proliferate, some investors are abandoning traditional unlisted managed funds because they prefer the ease, transparency, and lower costs of ETFs.
Investment manager GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) highlighted this trend in its 1H FY25 report.
GQG Partners said the rising popularity of ETFs contributed to a 28% reduction in inflows into its managed portfolios over the period.
The company is adapting, and last month it launched its first active ETF for its US Equity strategy.
It's already attracted $200 million of inflows.
Companies like GQG Partners typically deal with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs).
HNWI refers to people who have investable assets worth US$1 million or more.
HNWIs can afford professional advice and investment portfolio management.
So, it's interesting to look at which ASX ETFs HNWIs are buying, given they have access to the best advice and data available.
Data from AUSIEX shows 2 ASX ETFs were among the top 10 shares purchased by wealthy advised clients last month.
AUSIEX is a wholesale trading platform provider.
The data captured the buy orders of HNWI advised clients with self-managed superannuation funds above $3 million.
The 2 ASX ETFs in the top 10 were VanEck S&P/ASX MidCap ETF (ASX: MVE), ranked third, and VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND), ranked eighth. You can check out the full top 10 list here.
Let's find out more about these two ASX ETFs.
Image source: Getty Images
VanEck S&P/ASX MidCap ETF (ASX: MVE)
The MVE is the only ETF that tracks the S&P/ASX MidCap 50 Index.
Van Eck says mid-caps are the 'sweet spot' in the market because they represent businesses with the spirit and growth potential of small companies and the maturity of large companies.
MVE ETF's portfolio spans a range of sectors, with industrials (19.5%), financials (17.7%), and materials (15.4%) the largest allocations.
Top holdings include Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH).
The fund has delivered an annualised return of 12.03% over the past decade to July 2025, including dividends.
It has $404.6 million in net assets, charges a management fee of 0.45% p.a., and distributes income twice yearly.
VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND)
The DFND ETF gives investors targeted exposure to 31 leading global defence companies.
The ETF tracks the MarketVector Global Defence Industry (AUD) Index.
The DFND ETF is benefiting from the global defence investment theme.
More than half of the stocks this ETF is exposed to are in the US. The rest are in France, Italy, South Korea, and other nations.
Key holdings include AI and defence software firm Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: PLTR), US missile and aerospace giant RTX Corp (NYSE: RTX), and Italian aerospace and defence group Leonardo SpA (FRA: FMNB).
Since its inception in September 2024, DFND has returned 81% to June 2025, including dividends.
It has $197.1 million in net assets, a management fee of 0.65% p.a., and pays annual distributions.
