Some investors enjoy picking individual shares.
I do too. But I also think there is a lot to be said for owning an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that can quietly keep working in the background for years.
That is why I would consider buying Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).
It is not the most exciting ETF on the ASX. It does not try to pick the next hot sector, chase the latest theme, or concentrate money in a handful of fast-moving stocks.
But that is why I think it can be so useful.
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A simple way to invest globally
The first thing I like about the VGS ETF is the access it provides.
The ETF gives investors exposure to a large portfolio of international shares across developed markets. That means an investor can gain exposure to many of the world's largest companies without needing to pick individual winners overseas.
For Australian investors, I think that is valuable.
The ASX has plenty of good companies, but it does not offer the same depth in areas such as global technology, healthcare, consumer brands, industrials, payments, and software.
A global ETF can help fill that gap.
Rather than relying only on Australian banks, miners, retailers, and infrastructure names, investors can own a broader mix of businesses that earn money across many countries and industries.
That can make a portfolio feel more balanced over the long term.
Why simplicity can be powerful
One of the underrated strengths of ETFs is that they reduce the number of decisions an investor has to make.
Investing can become harder than it needs to be when every dollar has to be allocated to one specific company. Investors need to think about valuation, earnings, management, competition, risk, and whether something better is available.
With a broad ETF, the decision is simpler. Investors are buying a slice of a large market and letting time do more of the work.
That does not mean returns are guaranteed. Share markets can fall, currencies can move, and global investors can go through long periods of poor sentiment.
But I think the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF suits investors who want to keep adding money over time without constantly needing to make big calls.
It can be a useful default option for spare cash, regular investing plans, or long-term wealth building.
A long-term compounding machine
The reason I like VGS ETF is not because it will shoot the lights out every year.
It is because it offers exposure to thousands of businesses competing, adapting, reinvesting, and trying to become more profitable over time.
Some companies in the ETF will disappoint. Others may become much larger. The beauty of a broad ETF is that investors do not need to know in advance which names will do all the best work.
The fund can evolve as markets evolve.
That is important because the global economy changes. New leaders emerge, old leaders fade, and industries shift. A broad international ETF can move with those changes in a way that a static list of hand-picked shares may not.
Foolish Takeaway
If I wanted to keep investing simple, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF would be one of the first ASX ETFs I would consider buying.
It offers global diversification, access to industries that are harder to find on the ASX, and a straightforward way to keep putting money to work over the long term.
It will still have weak years, and investors need patience. But for those trying to build wealth without overcomplicating the process, I think it could be a smart ETF to buy and hold for decades.
