Investing does not have to be complicated to be effective.
Over time, I have come to appreciate the value of owning investments that quietly do the heavy lifting in the background.
Rather than constantly adjusting a portfolio or trying to predict short-term market moves, I like assets that give me exposure to powerful long-term trends and high-quality businesses in a simple, disciplined way.
While individual ASX shares certainly offer this, it can also be achieved easily with exchange traded funds (ETFs).
And two ASX ETFs that I own for this reason are named below. Here's why I think they are amazing picks for Aussie investors.
Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)
The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF gives me exposure to some of the most influential companies in the global economy through a single ASX investment.
This hugely tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which includes many of the world's leading technology and innovation-driven businesses. These companies sit at the centre of long-term trends such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital advertising, and e-commerce.
Major holdings typically include global leaders like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA). These are businesses with scale, global reach, and the ability to invest heavily in innovation year after year.
What appeals to me most about the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is how it allows the portfolio to evolve over time. As new leaders emerge and others fall away, the index adjusts. That makes this ETF a simple way to stay exposed to where growth and innovation are actually happening, without needing to constantly make the decisions myself.
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF (ASX: MOAT)
The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF complements the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF by taking a more selective approach to investing.
Rather than focusing on the fastest-growing companies, it invests in US businesses that have wide economic moats. These are companies with strong brands, high switching costs, or structural advantages that protect profits over long periods.
The portfolio is relatively concentrated and currently includes companies such as United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), and Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE). These are businesses that tend to generate strong cash flow and maintain pricing power through different economic environments.
For me, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF adds an extra layer of quality and discipline to a portfolio. It focuses on businesses that are not only strong today, but also difficult to displace over time.
