Picking individual shares can feel intimidating — and for good reason.
Even professionals don't always get it right, and owning the wrong stock at the wrong time can set your portfolio back years.
The good news is that you don't actually need to pick single stocks to build serious wealth in the share market.
That's where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come in. With a handful of ASX ETFs, you can gain exposure to hundreds (or even thousands) of the world's best businesses, all while keeping your investing strategy simple.
Start with an Australian core
For local exposure, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is a natural building block for investors to start with.
It tracks the ASX 300 index, giving you instant ownership of names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). That means your portfolio rises and falls with the performance of 300 of Australia's biggest and most established businesses.
Add international diversification
The Australian market makes up less than 2% of global equities, so it is vital to look offshore for investment ideas. The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) provides exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. stocks, including leaders such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Visa (NYSE: V), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).
For an even wider net, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) spreads your investment across more than 1,200 stocks from developed markets around the globe. That means ownership of everything from ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) in semiconductors to LVMH (FRA: MOH) in luxury goods.
Tilt toward long-term trends
Beyond broad market exposure, thematic ETFs let you target powerful megatrends.
For example, the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ) gives you access to innovators like Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) in robotic surgery and Keyence in automation. These are areas expected to reshape industries over the next few decades and could be great long term focuses.
Alternatively, there are the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) and the Betashares Crypto Innovators ETF (ASX: HACK) to consider.
Foolish takeaway
By combining core market ETFs with international diversification and exposure to megatrends, you can build a wealth-generating portfolio without ever picking a single stock. It is a strategy that's simple, diversified, and designed to compound steadily over the long term.
For most investors, that's exactly the kind of approach that leads to financial freedom.
