Thinking in 25-year timeframes changes how you invest. Short-term noise fades into irrelevance, while strong business models, structural growth, and competitive advantages start to matter far more.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be particularly powerful over these horizons, because they let investors benefit from long-term trends without needing to constantly adjust their portfolio as individual winners and losers change.
With that mindset, here are three ASX ETFs that could be well suited to a true buy-and-hold approach measured in decades rather than years.
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iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV)
The first ASX ETF to consider for a 25-year horizon is the iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF.
It tracks the S&P 500 Index, which represents the largest and most influential companies in the United States. What makes this fund particularly attractive over long periods is its ability to evolve. Companies that lose relevance are removed, while new leaders are added as the economy changes. That adaptability could make it a compelling long-term core holding.
Current holdings include businesses such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA). These companies sit at the centre of global innovation, capital markets, and technology investment.
VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW)
Another ASX ETF that could reward patient investors is the VanEck China New Economy ETF.
It focuses on China's new economy, targeting companies involved in areas such as technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and domestic consumption.
The ETF holds a wide range of emerging leaders, including businesses such as Intsig Information and Shennan Circuits. Many of these companies are still early in their growth journeys and benefit from rising incomes, innovation, and domestic demand.
China's market can be volatile, but over a 25-year period, exposure to a transforming economy could prove valuable for investors willing to tolerate short-term uncertainty. It was recently recommended by VanEck.
VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT)
A final ASX ETF to consider for long-term investors is the VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF.
This fund provides exposure to a concentrated portfolio of international companies that have sustainable competitive advantages, or wide economic moats, that can endure for 20 years or more.
Importantly, the ETF also applies a valuation discipline, targeting companies trading below the estimate of fair value.
Holdings include businesses such as Roche Holding (SWX: ROG), GSK (LSE: GSK), and Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ). These are established global companies with strong brands, intellectual property, or regulatory advantages that make them difficult to displace. The fund manager also recently recommended this ETF.
