The financial future of my kids is high up on my priority list. The goal is straightforward. I want to invest in ASX shares that have the potential to thrive for decades.
That's because my kids are still in the single digits. So there is no point in chasing the next big growth stock. Instead I'm after consistent growth and good quality businesses that can stand the test of time.
Here are three ASX shares which I think fit the bill.
Image source: Getty Images
Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)
Transurban is a long-term favorite of mine. It's a global infrastructure business that builds and operates urban toll road networks, tunnels, and bridges and operates 22 assets across Australia, the US, and Canada.
The business is widely considered a high-grade defensive ASX dividend stock because its toll road services are essential.
Even in the event of a downturn, people still need to travel to work and transportation will always continue. Transurban's toll roads typically have stable traffic volumes year-round, which means the business enjoys resilient cash flow regardless of economic conditions.
Another bonus is that most of its toll roads are on an annual contract. This means Transurban is able to increase its toll prices each year in line with rising inflation.
Over the past year, the ASX shares have been relatively stable, fluctuating mildly between $13.25 a piece and $15.62 a piece. Over the past 12 months, the shares are up around 7%.
It's this stability and consistent earnings that means Transurban is able to pay a reliable dividend to its shareholders too.
In February, the toll road operator paid an interim dividend of 34 cents per share, unfranked, to its shareholders.
For FY26, the company has forecast a distribution of 69 cents per security, which implies a forward dividend yield of around 4.1%, at the time of writing.
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Ltd (ASX: SOL)
If I were to focus on long-term dividend income. Soul Patts is another ASX share I'd consider buying for my kids.
Soul Patts is an Australian diversified investment house. It's often compared to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway because it invests in a broad portfolio of assets ranging from ASX-listed companies, to private credit, to real estate, and others.
It is widely regarded as Australian dividend royalty and it's also one of the few ASX shares that have continually raised its dividend payments over the past 28 years.
Soul Patts historically pays its fully-franked dividends twice per year in May and a final dividend in December. It occasionally also pays shareholders an additional special dividend.
For the first half of FY26, Soul Patts paid a fully-franked interim dividend of 48 cents per share. This was a 9.1% increase on the prior corresponding period. At the time of writing, the ASX shares have a grossed-up dividend yield of around 2.4%, including franking credits.
Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)
The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF is an entirely different type of investment. It is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index and it gives investors easy access to cybersecurity-focused companies.
As an ETF, HACK allows Australian investors to invest in a diversified basket of international cybersecurity stocks without having to purchase individual shares on overseas exchanges. It typically holds around 30 to 40 companies involved in software, hardware, and services protecting digital infrastructure, data, and networks.
Cybersecurity is becoming more important across the world as cyberattacks grow in sophistication, frequency, and scale.
I also think it will also become a larger cost for businesses as more activity moves online and businesses expand on their use of artificial intelligence.
The fund also pays a semi-annual dividend to its shareholders. Earlier this month, HACK paid its most recent $0.615682 per unit dividend to its investors.
As at 30th June 2026, the HACK ETF has a 12-month gross distribution yield of 2.5%.
