If you asked the world's best investors to design a portfolio, they would probably start with three questions.
Does it own great businesses, is it painfully simple to maintain, and will I still be happy with it in ten years?
The good news is you can answer yes to all three questions with just a handful of ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
For example, the three funds listed below could be among the best to buy and hold forever. Let's find out why:
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iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
The iShares S&P 500 ETF gives investors instant ownership of America's corporate elite.
You're getting the obvious names, such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), but also giants that don't always get the headlines, like JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM).
With respect to UnitedHealth Group, it is the largest US health insurer with a fast-growing analytics arm (Optum). It blends defensive demand with structural growth as data and care management move digital.
BetaShares Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)
Another ASX ETF that could be a good candidate to buy and hold forever is the BetaShares Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF.
It targets stocks that are driving automation and AI across factories, hospitals, and cities. Current heavyweights include ABB (SWX: ABBN), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK), and FANUC (TYO: 6954).
FANUC is a Japanese robotics pioneer that dominates industrial arms and CNC controllers used by manufacturers worldwide. Its deep service revenues and razor-sharp focus on reliability make it a prime beneficiary of the multi-year re-tooling of global supply chains.
BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)
Finally, the BetaShares Australian Quality ETF could be a third top pick for buy and hold investors.
It keeps your domestic core tight and tidy by screening for high return on equity, strong balance sheets, and consistent earnings. You will find names like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) among its holdings.
Macquarie Group is a key holding. Few companies have compounded book value, earnings, and dividends over multiple cycles like Macquarie. Its mix of annuity-style asset management alongside market-facing businesses gives it resilience when conditions are tough and strength when they improve.
