Forget property: Here’s where Aussies are pouring $7 billion a month

October 31, 2026 — 5:01am

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Do taxation changes have you thinking of investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF)? You are not alone – in September, Aussies poured nearly $7 billion into ETFs, according to Betashares’ latest 2026 ETF Review. That means pretty soon a record $400 billion will be invested.

As the shine comes off property investing thanks to negative gearing ending for all but new builds, market investments are looking more attractive.

And ETFs allow even the most novice investor cheap, easy and diversified access. They are bundled investments in a particular industry or market, and you buy and sell them like regular shares.

So, of the more-than 500 ETFs available for purchase in Australia, how do you choose? You start with you.

What is your investment appetite?

Factors very specific to you will determine your shortlist. Chief among these are your age and ‘stage’. It’s not advisable to invest in shares if you want to be able to access the money – in other words, sell – in fewer than five years.

This is known as your investment horizon. The value of shares can fluctuate – and has been fluctuating – significantly. Though you can still pick the wrong five years, the theory is this gives your investment the time it might need to recover.

But think cautiously before investing, say, money that is destined for a house deposit. The........

© The Sydney Morning Herald