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ETFs for SMSFs: How they work and what they cost

Building a well-diversified investment portfolio from the ground up takes time and effort. But the task is much easier these days thanks to the rapidly expanding universe of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

ETFs are a type of low-cost managed fund that can be bought and sold on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Cboe Australia, just like shares. Cboe is an alternative trading exchange to the ASX.

From a standing start in 2001, there are now more than 450 ETFs listed on the ASX and Cboe Australia, worth more than $330 billion at the end of December 2025, up 34% in just one year.

Who’s using ETFs and why

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