Hey everyone, I’m 23 and finished uni this year. I’ve started a full-time job and can invest around $300–$600 per week into ETFs after expenses and emergency savings.

I’m new to investing and looking for advice on building a portfolio for long-term growth. I’m using Betashares and already have some money invested.

What ETFs would you recommend for core and satellite holdings?

Thanks for the help!

Love learning about investing and how the market works. I’ve been investing $50 a week for 2.5 months, I’ve increased to $200 a week now and into I’ll be at a $10k portfolio by end of 2027.

We have all heard the 4% withdrawal rate, but it is based in the US. With Australia’s health system and tax-free super, I have heard that 5% withdrawal rate (with 100% equities and adequate cash buffer) would easily be achievable in Australia.

What are your thoughts on this?

Just opened an account with Betashares this morning and my plan is to put $50 pw. Open to suggestions!

Edit: Thanks for the supportive comments peeps 🥂

Hey Everyone,

This is intended to gauge how I'm going financially at my age and how I could potentially improve.

Context:

I'm 25m working full time starting from $0 4 years ago. I am currently on ~150k a year base with potential to make upwards of ~250k with OT

I currently have 60k in shares, majority ETFs with varying investment areas. And invest regularly ~1k a month atm.

I am currently contributing an additional 15k a year to super as well as an additional 5% as work will contribute another 2% on top if I do this. I have maxed my FHSS with 90k in high growth super at the moment.

Furthermore I have ~30k saved in cash as a safety net. Giving me a 6-9 month buffer.

I am debt free and want to travel but feel as though I'd be throwing away the last 3 years of hard work by doing this.

Curious to know everyone's opinions.

TIA.

Hello, I am a 22 year old who wants to invest but no idea about anything on it. I have just started watching some videos to learn about it but would be really glad to know from real people who has been investing and have a lot of experience that would be helpful to a complete beginner. I want some advice, ideas and guidance for what to do and what not to do. Any advice would be appreciated. I earn around 1200 AUD a fortnight, hopefully 1500 from next week. Thankss.

Hey guys, new to investing and started around 3 months ago. I got advice from my friend who is a pilot and loves investing. His advice was to use Betashares and invest in the two portfolios- All Growth Core and Technology Innovators. Another friend of mine who is into investing suggested VGS and IVV.

I decided to invest in the following:

-50% into VGS

-18.75% into IVV

-15.625% into All Growth Core

-15.625% into Technology Innovators

I just wanted some honest feedback and advice from you guys with more experience in investing. I’m not looking to take massive risks which is why I went with the following.

My goal is to outperform what a term deposit would have made me in the 3-4 years.

Thanks in advance and good luck to everyone and their investments!! 🫡

Hi All,

I am looking to buy more ETFs, likely BGBL and VAS (~80%/20%) on CMC. Firstly do you agree? I chose BGBL over VGS due to the management fee.

Secondly, I already have some money in NDQ which has done well over the last few year but looking to exit that position due to the high management fee. Is this a good/bad descision? I'm just not sure as I will have to pay CGT on it.

It’s been a year of investing, started when I was 26. Never missed, consistently putting $600 per month regardless. Automation is such a big factor to it.

Please let me know how I can improve. Cheers!

I’m 33F, living in Melbourne, and I’ve never had private health insurance. I’m trying to educate myself on whether it’s financially worthwhile to take out hospital cover now or continue relying on Medicare.
My main concern is the Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading. From what I understand, I’m already looking at approximately 6% loading if I join now, which will continue for 10 years of eligible cover. I’m wondering whether it makes more financial sense to start paying for basic hospital cover now or save that money and potentially accept a higher loading later.

A bit about my circumstances:
- 33F, single, no dependants, living in Victoria.
- Annual salary approximately $75,000 before tax.
- No existing private health insurance.
- No significant debt apart from HECS.
- Currently saving towards a house deposit.
- No regular specialist appointments or anticipated surgeries.
- Dental appointments are free through my previous employment in the dental industry.
- Recently had my eyes checked and don’t require glasses.
- Considering seeing a podiatrist, but unsure whether ongoing treatment will be necessary.
- Occasional physiotherapy or remedial massage might be useful, but I’m comfortable paying out of pocket.
- Planning to take out Ambulance Victoria membership separately.

What I’m considering:
At this stage, I don’t think extras insurance would be worthwhile given my limited use of those services.
I’m more interested in whether a Basic, Basic Plus or Bronze hospital policy is a sensible financial decision.
I’ve been looking at policies potentially costing around $80 to $110 per month after the government rebate and applicable loading, although I haven’t obtained personalised quotes yet.

I’d appreciate advice on the following:
- Is it financially worthwhile taking out hospital cover at 33 primarily to prevent further LHC loading?
- Would I potentially be better off saving or investing the equivalent premiums and taking out hospital cover later?
- For those who have Basic or Bronze hospital cover, has it actually been useful, or do you feel you’re paying primarily for the tax and LHC benefits?
- Are there any important financial considerations I’m overlooking, particularly regarding government rebates, exclusions, waiting periods and future premium increases?

I’m not necessarily opposed to paying for insurance, but I’d prefer to understand whether I’m getting genuine value from it rather than committing to an ongoing expense out of fear of future penalties.
Interested to hear how others have approached this, particularly anyone who was in a similar position in their early 30s.

Hi, I'm pretty new to investing and from what I've learned so far alot of peoe recommend DHFF, A200+BGBL, or IVV+A200, I can't really decide what to go with, i want steady growth and don't want to miss out on markets like NDQ. Could anyone please help me of choosing what might be the best etf portfolio?

Hello, thanks in advance for your time. I heard about FIRE a few years ago but only got my first real full time job at 31, so have been slack about sorting myself out earlier. Honestly I incorrectly thought that it wouldn’t really apply to me (didn’t grow up with money). Now I have done relatively well at work and pay has gone up significantly in the last 2 years, although this has potential to do so for a little bit longer, it will plateau.

- Annual income 185k
- Super 98k, and now meeting concessional super cap yearly
- Have a study loan that will take about 17k a year for 3 more years
- Mortgage 640k, offset 110k (offset shared with partner, current interest rate 6.39 variable)
- Emergency fund 30k also in offset
- Monthly spend including mortgage repayment about 3k
- Partner income 120k, not likely to change in future
- No kids, my main spend is travel now that I can, and spend ~5-8k a year depending on friend/family and destination
- have about 70k in carry forward concessional super contributions (the oldest remaining amount is only about 2k).
- I’m also thinking of novated leasing an EV from work (~200-250$ a week). I drive 100km+ a day so electric is going to help me with fuel costs in the long run.

Things I’m wondering:
- Is it worth trying to get my tax bracket below 130k with my carry forward amount and salary sacrificing over the next 2-3 years with the novated lease and some salary packaging? I know it would only be possible if I prioritise this over travelling over this time. Or is this more of a personal ‘what do you value more vs FIRE’ decision?
- I have 5k I can put aside right now into either super or start investing (I’ve seen people recommend Betashares a lot due to their fee structure). But do I focus on maxing out carry forward concessional contributions before thinking about getting my head around stocks? I’ve been doing some reading this week on the resources from this sub, don’t feel comfortable with all the jargon like I still haven’t gotten my head around franking 😅
- Is it time to refinance that mortgage? Two months ago it was 6.1%

As always, regret not getting my shit sorted earlier but thankful to have found the community here!

I made it a goal to put in 350 per fortnight since January 2026, along with any excess income which I would have at hand. I mainly started off with DHHF, which was followed by now going into a VAS and VGS split. I also put some money into the Wall Street (The money in SS for Wall st is USD) for the vibes and put some money into Ethereum.

Would love to hear any advice. I'm mostly looking for long-term investments, and I'm not planning on using this money anytime soon. Would love to hear your guys' advice.

Currently have a CommSec account with my investments in it, Want to know which platform is best to use and how the transferring process will work if i do decide to switch.

sorry if this has been asked before

Hi all, looking to get started investing and just wondering what platform everyone recommends. Thanks in advance

I’m working full time at the moment whilst figuring out what to pursue (GAP YEAR - Planning to enter FIFO work through trades).

I’m allocating $1000 monthly for investment into shares whilst the remaining amount is for expenses and increasing my emergency funds.

Right now I’m all into VDAL with roughly $6000 within the ETF.

Just wanting advice on whether I’m on the right track and should keep investing into this.

How would this ETF compare something similar such as DHHF?

Planning to salary sacrifice as well and increase the amount being put into SUPER.

Does the super fund you decide on matter? I’m aware that being in a industry super fund is important but how do they all compare with one another.

Is there anything that I could improve on? Would appreciate the advice.

Cheers

I am 40 years old and have recently inherited exactly $1,000,000 and need some guidance and peoples ideas on how to manage this new situation I am in.

Earn $110,000 per year in a fairly cruisy role that is engaging, challenging and stress free. I don't hate doing this job.

$550,000 in Superannuation high growth (I made forward a contribution from a much smaller inheritance a few years ago.

House valued at $700,000 -$750,000 with no mortgage. It is built on a severe slope with a steep driveway (45 degrees) and two flights of stairs. Although it has beautiful views, it is a real pain to maintain and get shopping up and not viable long term when I get old. I am fit now, but not when I am 70. I have actually fallen down the driveway a few times.

These are the options I am thinking about:

1. Sell my current house now and buy a new forever house for $1,100,000 on a flat block. I would be selling the house for a little over what I paid for it and have injected a bit fixing it up. Put the balance, $400,000 - $500,000 into ETFs live off this if I retire at 50-55, before super kicks in.
2. Keep my current house and buy a new forever house for $1,100,000 on a flat block. Rent out the original house. All my money is tied up in super and house.
3. Keep my current house and invest the $1,000,000 in ETFs. Retire earlier at 50 and look for a house that is much more suitable when I am older. Maybe retire overseas or somewhere else entirely once all my family is gone.

I am not Finance literate and I am unsure what do due to all the changes with the CGT and housing and I cant predict what house prices will be in 20-30 years. I dont know what the best option would be.

Repost

Hi guys, just looking for some general feedback on my portfolio as a 19 year old.
I have my investments attached. I have around 18k in there currently. I also have 6k in my bank savings account saved for travel, semi long term (5 years) goals, and emergencies. I have a few thousand in physical gold but dont plan to sell it as it was given by family.

Eventually I want to move out— should I save in my bank account for this, or just put most of my money into etfs??? and take it out when I need to use it?
Or should I aim to generally not take out my money from ETFs for the foreseeable future and use it for very long term goals like retirement/house instead??

Thank you!

Stupid question, I know, haha. I got an investment account as a kid under my parents name when Gamestop went nuts, made 10k, and have had that sitting in my Etoro account for yeaaars now. I'm estranged with my parents but the account links to my bank account, and I wouldn't mind taking that money out and reinvesting it elsewhere in my own personal adult account.

Of course I know nothing about investing in the slightest, and I'm sure the ATO would set me straight if I filed wrong so it's nothing to worry about too bad, but I figured I'd ask anyway so I could do my best in figuring out how to handle this.

Hey all,

Started my portfolio finally in April. Started with 70/30 s&p/asx. Decided to have a bit of fun with an individual stock just recently.

Any feedback or advice.

TIA:)

Hi all,
What is everyone using for a share trading platform, I’m currently on stake, between them getting hacked and them wanting to use a third party for biometrics.
It’s time to leave.

So looking for a different solution, ideally without Know Your Customer (KYC)
Drivers lic ect is ok, biometrics is not.

Hi,
Does anyone here invests in US covered call etfs or closed ended funds purely just for income purpose? Example: QQQI, GPIX, GPIQ or anything similar? What broker do you use for that?
Or does anyone invests in aussie income etfs? What are you guys invested in?

Currently 21M. Just moved back home.

Income; 103k total

($75,400 base remaining is a higher duties allowance / bonus so no super.)

Assets; 83k total

6k - motorbike & miscellaneous

11k - emergency fund in a HYSA

40k - home deposit (currently in offset for parents IP)

Super~ 24k

$2,000 - shares ($750 in etfs and remainder is part of employee share plan)

Debts / expenses; 14k

10k - hecs/helps

$600/fn - rent (paying half the rent for old place until end of this year as I’m on the lease and my ex-partner cannot afford it, to be replaced with board for parents from next year)

$500/mth - essential expenses (car, meds, clothes, food)

$600/mth - entertainment and miscellaneous (nonessential but keeps me sane)

Current strategy;

DCA $500 a fortnight into DHHF

Salary sacrificing $775 into super from next payslip.

Saving the rest for the home deposit goal: ~ 100k by 2029.

My current plan is to have 15k in concessional super contributions for the FHSS scheme, to ideally have the 50k to withdraw when I want to buy a house. Aiming for total deposit of 150k.

My current role is a secondment with a very high likelihood of permanency and will make my base 103k with no extra income expected to occur FY 27.

Are there any issue with my current plan? I haven’t done too much research because I tend to get analysis paralysis, and I wanted to maximise the time in the market. Only buying DHHF rn, might explore other options later.

Questions:

- Is it “worth” maxing my concessional super contributions if my plan is to retire before 50?

- the estimates I’ve provided are only estimates but I’m often left in surplus funds and I’m not sure what the best allocations would be for them.

Please share if I’ve made any oversights or any fatal mistakes in this set up. I work in banking yet I am not financially literate and am still working on building capability.

The role that I am professionally developing into has a 140k base w/ 10% performance bonus available, I estimate it will take Atleast 2 years before I am in that role tho, so I haven’t considered it as a part of my strategy.

Please also share any helpful resources for FIRE! I’m very new and wanted to take action ASAP as I feel very behind.

Thank you!