Index investing has become mainstream in Australia, driven by industry super funds and a growing retail ETF market on the ASX. The key Australian-specific decision is whether to invest inside super (tax advantages but locked until retirement) or outside in a brokerage account (accessible but taxed).
Popular Australian ETFs on the ASX
| ETF | What it tracks | MER | Issuer |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGS | MSCI World ex-Australia | 0.18% | Vanguard |
| VAS | ASX 300 (Australian equities) | 0.07% | Vanguard |
| VDHG | Diversified High Growth (90/10) | 0.27% | Vanguard |
| DHHF | Global + Aus diversified | 0.19% | Betashares |
| NDQ | Nasdaq 100 | 0.48% | Betashares |
| A200 | ASX 200 | 0.04% | Betashares |
Australian investing platforms compared
| Platform | Brokerage fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pearler | $6.50/trade | Long-term buy-and-hold, automation |
| CommSec Pocket | $2 (under $1k) / $9.50 | Beginners, small amounts |
| Stake | $3/trade (ASX) | Frequent traders, low brokerage |
| Vanguard Personal Investor | $9/trade | Vanguard fund investors |
| SelfWealth | $9.50 flat | ASX and US shares |
Inside super vs outside super
Super is taxed at 15% on earnings (vs your marginal rate of 32.5-47% outside). For long-term wealth building, this makes super very attractive. The trade-off: you can't access it until preservation age (60). The optimal strategy for most Australians:
- Max out super contributions first (especially salary sacrifice) for the tax benefit
- Invest outside super in ETFs for flexibility and earlier access
- Keep emergency fund and short-term goals in HISA/offset
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About the author
Enrique 'Kike' Faúndez is an Information Systems and Management Control Engineer from Universidad de Chile, with master’s degrees in Finance from Universidad de Chile and Industrial Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He has 15+ years of experience in regulated financial services across finance, operations, and digital product development. He founded CashControlly in Santiago, Chile, with the conviction that personal financial control should not be a privilege, but an accessible and well-designed tool.
- Master's in Finance, Universidad de Chile
- Master's in Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Information Systems and Management Control Engineer, Universidad de Chile
- AI and ITIL certifications
- 15+ years in regulated financial services
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