There is something appealing about investments you do not have to keep second-guessing.
Buy them, add to them over time, and let the underlying companies do the work.
Of course, no investment should literally be ignored forever. But for investors with a very long time horizon, these five ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be strong candidates to hold for decades.
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iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
The iShares S&P 500 ETF could be an obvious place to start.
It gives investors exposure to 500 of America's largest listed companies.
The attraction here is not simply that the United States has performed well historically.
It is that the S&P 500 continually evolves. Successful companies grow into larger positions, new leaders enter the index, and businesses that decline in importance can eventually drop out.
That makes the iShares S&P 500 ETF a simple way to back the long-term strength of corporate America without trying to predict today's winners decades into the future.
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)
The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF takes a more selective approach.
It invests in US companies that Morningstar believes possess sustainable competitive advantages and are trading at attractive valuations.
Those advantages could come from brands, intellectual property, cost advantages, network effects, or customers that are difficult to lose.
I think this philosophy makes plenty of sense for a long holding period.
A business that can defend its profits from competitors has a better chance of compounding earnings for many years.
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)
The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF could be a good option for investors wanting to look beyond America.
It invests across developed and emerging markets outside the United States.
This provides exposure to companies in Europe, Japan, Asia, Canada, and other markets around the world.
Nobody knows which country will produce the strongest returns over the next 20 years.
VEU allows investors to participate in growth across a huge part of the global economy without needing to make that call.
Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)
The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF is a more targeted long-term idea.
It invests in major Asian technology companies across semiconductors, ecommerce, gaming, digital platforms, and other areas.
Asia is home to some of the world's most important technology businesses and enormous consumer markets.
I think that combination could provide plenty of growth over the decades ahead as more spending, services, and economic activity move online.
Global X FANG+ ETF (ASX: FANG)
Finally, the Global X FANG+ ETF could suit investors who want concentrated exposure to some of the world's dominant growth companies.
The fund invests in a small collection of major technology and consumer businesses involved in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital advertising, ecommerce, electric vehicles, and online entertainment.
It will inevitably have periods of significant volatility.
But over a very long period, I think owning companies that are helping shape how people work, communicate, shop, and use technology could prove rewarding.
