Building a portfolio does not need to be difficult.
With the right mix of ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs), investors can get broad exposure to Australian shares, global markets, and selected quality companies.
Here is one simple way to do it with just three investments.
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iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
The first ASX ETF to consider as part of this portfolio is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.
This fund can act as the global growth engine of the portfolio. It gives investors exposure to 500 large companies listed in the United States, which remains the deepest and most influential share market in the world.
That means the fund is connected to many of the businesses setting the pace in technology, healthcare, consumer products, financial services, industrials, and communication services. This includes Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).
A key attraction of this fund is that it does not require investors to decide which US giant will win next. It spreads capital across a large group of market leaders and allows the portfolio to participate as corporate America keeps adapting, innovating, and expanding.
Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)
The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF could be another good addition to this portfolio.
It brings the portfolio back home. The fund provides exposure to a large basket of Australian shares, including banking giants, mining behemoths, healthcare companies, retailers, property groups, infrastructure businesses, and industrial names.
The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF also provides a source of income, as many Australian companies have a long history of paying dividends.
This gives the portfolio a different shape from a purely global strategy. It adds exposure to Australian profits, Australian dividends, and the domestic economy, while still spreading risk across a broad group of local companies.
VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT)
The final component of this portfolio could be the VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF.
This ASX ETF can add a more selective layer to the portfolio. It looks beyond Australia and focuses on international companies that are judged to have strong competitive positions and attractive valuations.
That makes it different from a standard index fund. Instead of simply following the biggest companies by market value, it tries to find businesses with advantages that may help protect profits over time. Those advantages can come from strong brands, valuable intellectual property, cost benefits, customer loyalty, or products that are difficult to replace.
This can give the portfolio exposure to companies that may be able to defend their market positions through changing conditions. It also helps broaden the portfolio beyond the Australian market and the US-heavy exposure investors may already get through IVV.
Foolish takeaway
It might be simple, but combining the IVV, VAS, and GOAT ETFs could give investors a winning three-ETF portfolio with global scale, local exposure, dividend potential, and a selective quality tilt.
