Reaching the $1 million mark in your share portfolio may sound like a distant dream, but with the right approach, time, and consistency, it is an achievable goal for almost anyone that is willing to commit to long-term investing.
The key lies in starting early, investing regularly, and letting the power of compounding do most of the work for you.
Here's how you could realistically build a seven-figure ASX share portfolio from scratch.
Start with a clear game plan
Every investor begins somewhere, whether it is $100 or $10,000. What matters most is setting a clear investment strategy. Focus on owning quality ASX shares and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that can grow, pay sustainable dividends, and stand the test of time.
Some successful investors use a core-satellite approach. This means building a solid core of blue-chip shares and index ETFs and then adding smaller growth opportunities around the edges.
Your core holdings might include blue chips like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) for defensive growth and dividends. On the growth side, tech leaders such as Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) offer the potential for long-term capital appreciation.
Invest regularly
Let's imagine you start from zero and invest $1,000 a month into a mix of quality ASX shares and ETFs. Assuming a 10% average annual return, which is achievable but not guaranteed, after 23 years your portfolio could be worth around $1 million.
That's the magic of compounding. Your money not only grows, but your returns begin earning their own returns. The earlier you start, the more time your portfolio has to snowball.
Even smaller, consistent contributions add up. Investing $500 a month over the same timeframe would still grow to roughly $500,000. And keep going for a further 7 years (30 years in total) and your $500 a month would turn into $1 million, all else equal.
Stay invested through volatility
The hardest part of this investing strategy is continuing through volatility.
And there certainly has been a lot of that this year. Despite tariff concerns, wars, and political noise, the ASX 200 has still gained around 10% since the start of the year (excluding dividends).
Even during uncertain periods, regular investing smooths out market timing risks and ensures you're always buying at different price points.
Foolish takeaway
Building a $1 million ASX portfolio doesn't require perfect timing or a big windfall. It just needs consistency, time, and quality investments.
By sticking to a disciplined plan and focusing on long-term growth, you can turn modest beginnings into a life-changing portfolio.
