One of the simplest ways to build lasting wealth is by investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

But which ASX ETFs could be good picks for investors that are looking to grow their portfolio steadily over the next five years and beyond?

Let's look at five top ASX ETFs to consider buying and holding for the long term.

BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF gives investors access to Asia's most dynamic technology giants. This includes Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), and Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU).

These companies dominate digital life across Asia, from e-commerce to cloud computing and artificial intelligence. And with the region's middle class expanding rapidly, the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF provides exposure to one of the fastest-growing tech ecosystems in the world.

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

For exposure to the innovation capital of the world, the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF is hard to beat.

This ASX ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which features industry leaders like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

These companies have transformed global industries and continue to drive technological progress.

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

Closer to home, the BetaShares Australian Quality ETF focuses on high-performing local shares with strong balance sheets and consistent earnings growth. Current holdings include CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME).

This could make this ASX ETF a great choice for investors who want reliable exposure to quality Australian businesses that can compound steadily through good times and bad.

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

Australia's technology sector might be smaller than the US, but it is packed with potential. The BetaShares Australian Technology ETF includes some of the nation's most innovative names. This includes WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), and NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT).

As Australian tech companies expand globally, this fund offers a way to tap into that growth without having to pick individual winners.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Finally, for broad international diversification, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF could be an excellent option. It invests in more than 1,200 global stocks, including Nestle (SWX: NESN), Toyota (TYO: 7203), Microsoft, and Unilever (LSE: ULVR).

This ASX ETF is designed to deliver steady, long-term growth through wide exposure across sectors and regions, which could make it a perfect complement to the other ETFs in this list.

The post 5 top ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 5 years+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This is a perfectly understandable attitude to take. However, I think income investors would be better served by incorporating some international diversification into their income portfolios anyway. There are plenty of global shares out there that have a lot to offer when it comes to dividend income, with many (as you'll see below) putting some of the ASX's best stocks to shame.

Today, let's discuss three global dividend shares that I believe offer significant passive income potential.

Three global dividend shares for the discerning passive income investor

Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO)

First up, we have a company that every reader should be familiar with. Although Coke has a range of subsidiaries around the world (ASX investors might remember the old Coca-Cola Amatil), this is the mother ship, the company that started it all, and officially owns the rights to the Coca-Cola name, brand, and secret formula.

Coca-Cola, as well as this company's other brands, such as Sprite and Fanta, are, of course, highly profitable. But what ASX investors might not know is that their enduring popularity has enabled this company to hold a 62-year-and-counting streak of annual dividend increases for its shareholders. That is something that no ASX share can come close to claiming. Coca-Cola stock currently trades on a dividend yield of 2.89%.

Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ: MDLZ)

You might not have heard of the snack giant Mondelez. But you would almost certainly be aware of several of this company's household-name brands. Mondelez is the name behind some of the world's favourite foods, including Oreos, Ritz, Sour Patch Kids, Toblerone and, last but not least, Cadbury chocolate.

Thanks to enduring demand for its products, Mondelez is also a top global share when it comes to passive dividend income. Its shares are currently on a dividend yield of 3.56%.

Unilever plc (LON: ULVR)

Our final global share worth checking out for passive dividend income investors is British consumer staples titan Unilever. Like Mondelez, Unilever is a name far less well-known than its underlying portfolio of brands. These range from household products like Omo, Dove, Vaseline, and Rexona to foods such as Hellmann's mayonnaise and Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Chances are, you have several Unilever products in your house right now.

Again, the essential nature of these products gives Unilever's profits and dividends a huge level of economic resilience. This stock can be bought at a 3.38% dividend yield right now.

The post Chasing a passive income? Check out these 3 top global dividend shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But Aussies also like to look at other indexes around the world as well. There's the S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP: .INX), and the NASDAQ-100 (INDEXNASDAQ: NDX) indexes for American shares.

And there's also the FTSE 100 Index (INDEXFTSE: UKX). The FTSE 100 measures the performance of the largest 100 companies over in the United Kingdom. It's this latter index that we'll be taking a closer look at today.

The FTSE 100 is an interesting case. Because, unlike the ASX 200, or the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, the FTSE 100 has not yet surpassed its pre-COVID highs.

How has the FTSE 100 performed in 2021 compared to the ASX 200?

So just to recap, the ASX 200 is currently up 10.53% year to date in 2021, including today's movements so far. What of the FTSE 100? Well, the FTSE is currently up 6.03% in 2021 as of today. It's also up 12.18% over the past 12 months, again not quite matching the ASX 200's 21.23% over the same period.

So why this underperformance compared to the ASX 200?

Well, to answer that question, let's check out the shares that make up the majority of the FTA 100's weightings right now. This data comes from BetaShares, the provider of the ASX's only FTSE 100 exchange-traded fund (ETF), the BetaShares FTSE 100 ETF (ASX: F100):

How have FTSE 100 shares performed lately?

Ok, so some interesting observations here. Firstly, you might see some familiar names here with BHP and Rio Tinto. These actually reflect these Australian companies' London listings (they are also both listed over in the United States). So yes, these two companies contribute to the ASX 200, as well as the FTSE 100.

You might also notice the FTSE 100's largest holding is none other than AstraZeneca, a company that most of us would probably be familiar with these days for obvious reasons. AstraZeneca shares have had a rather successful 2021 so far, gaining close to 14% year to date. However, the shares are also still down 3.34% over the past 12 months.

GlaxoSmithKline is also a pharmaceutical company (it's the face behind brands like Panadol). GSK is up slightly year to date, but down 12.3% over the past year.

Other than that, we see the consumer staples giant Unilever here (the company behind Lynx deodorant, Dove soap, Omo washing powder, and Lipton tea). Unilever shares are down more than 9% in 2021 so far, and down more than 13% over the past year.

We also see the oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell. Like ASX energy shares, these companies have been struggling over the past year or so. Both are up in 2021 so far but BP remains down over the past 12 months.

We also have a bank in HSBC (which stands for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation). HSBC shares are up moderately in both 2021 and over the past year.

Rounding it out we have a couple of 'sin stocks' in Diageo and British American Tobacco. Diageo is the giant alcohol company behind famous brands like Johnny Walker, Guinness and Tanqueray. While British American Tobacco makes cigarettes and tobacco products (including the Winfield brand).

Diageo has been a top FTSE 100 performer, putting on gains of almost 18% in 2021 so far, and 21.7% over the past 12 months. British American Tobacco is in the red over both periods.

Foolish takeaway

So it's pretty easy to see where some of the FTSE 100's lacklustre performance has come from in 2021 so far. Unlike the ASX 200, the FTSE 100 is not concentrated heavily on banks and mining companies, although they are present.

Shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) have done most of the heavy lifting when it comes to the ASX 200's performance this year so far. In contrast, top FTSE shares like AstraZeneca and Unilever have performed far more poorly. As such, we can see what has made both indexes tick in recent times.

Still, every index tends to have its day in the sun, so who knows what the future might hold for both the FTSE 100 and the ASX 200.

The post How is the ASX 200 performing against the FTSE 100 in 2021? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.