Self Invest is closed to new investors. This information is for existing Self Invest users.

What is an exchange-traded fund (ETF)?

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer access to a wide range of Australian and international companies through a selection of pre-mixed portfolios. They are structured like a managed fund and can be traded like shares on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Benefits of ETFs

  • Low cost
    Compared to other managed investments, ETFs offer Self Invest users a low cost way to invest in a wide range of Australian and international companies.
  • Easy to trade
    ETFs can be traded like shares on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) continuously throughout the day, online, and in real time.
  • Provides diversification
    Self Invest users can use ETFs to spread their money over a range of securities, or gain exposure to a specific sector or investment group.

Available ETFs

Self Invest offers a variety of ETFs for you to choose from. A maximum of 85% of your total QSuper Accumulation or Retirement Income account balance can be held in ETFs, and maximum exposure limits apply to each (represented as a percentage of your total balance, at the time of transacting).1

Show all available ETFs Hide all

Description ASX code Maximum exposure
BetaShares Australia 200 ETF A200 No limit
iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF IOZ No limit
VanEck Vectors Australian Equal Weight ETF MVW No limit
Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF VHY 50% limit
Vanguard MSCI Australian Large Companies Index ETF VLC No limit
Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF VSO 50% limit
Description ASX code Maximum exposure
Vanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF VAP 50% limit
Description ASX code Maximum exposure
iShares S&P 500 AUD Hedged ETF IHVV No Limit
iShares Core MSCI World All Cap (AUD Hedged) ETF IHWL No limit
iShares S&P Midcap ETF IJH 50% limit
iShares S&P Small-Cap ETF IJR 50% limit
iShares S&P 500 ETF IVV No limit
VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF MOAT 50% limit
VanEck Vectors MSCI World Ex-Australia Quality (Hedged) ETF QHAL 50% limit
VanEck Vectors MSCI World Ex-Australia Quality ETF QUAL 50% limit
ETFS Morningstar Global Technology ETF TECH 50% limit
Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF VAE 50% limit
Vanguard All-World ex US Shares Index ETF VEU No limit
Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF VGAD No limit
Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF VGS No limit
Vanguard MSCI International Small Companies Index ETF VISM 50% limit
Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF VTS No limit
Description ASX code Maximum exposure
iShares Core Composite Bond ETF IAF No limit
iShares Treasury ETF IGB No limit
iShares Government Inflation ETF ILB 50% limit
Vanguard Australian Fixed Interest Index ETF VAF No limit
Vanguard International Fixed Interest Index (Hedged) ETF VIF No limit
Description ASX code Maximum exposure
ETFS Physical Silver  ETPMAG 25% limit

Please check the provider's Target Market Determination before choosing their product in Self Invest.

How much it costs

Fees and costs apply for investing your super in Self Invest, and are also charged when you buy and sell an ETF. Most of the fees and costs will be deducted from your Self Invest transaction account. An ETF management fee also applies, which will be deducted from the ETF by the ETF manager before the return is declared.

Find out more about fees and costs in Self Invest or see the Self Invest Guide (pdf).

Risks of ETFs

As an asset class, ETFs can be considered a very high risk investment, however individual ETFs can carry a lower risk, such as one that invests in a diverse range of bonds. When you invest in ETFs, you need to be prepared to accept a level of volatility and the possibility of negative returns.

Find out more about the risks of Self Invest.

You should also check the provider's website for their ETF product's Target Market Determination before choosing the ETF in Self Invest.

How we select ETFs

The ETFs listed in the tables above have been selected based on the following criteria. Each ETF must have:

  • Product quality: Lonsec ETF rating of 'Highly Recommended' at each review
  • Scale and liquidity: Funds under management (FUM) of at least $100 million
  • Liquidity: Average monthly trading volume of at least $10 million (measured over the past 12 months)
  • Low fees: Cost no greater than 1% p.a.
  • Class category: Excluding cash, currency, and leveraged ETFs.

Watch list

ETFs that no longer meet the ETF criteria at the time of review will be placed on the watch list below at our discretion.

Please note:

  • You can continue to invest in the ETFs listed on the watch list
  • We may remove these ETFs in the future if they continue not to meet our selection criteria
  • When an ETF is no longer available on Self Invest, you can continue to hold that ETF but you cannot increase the amount you have invested in that ETF.

Description ASX code Reason for no longer meeting the ETF criteria
Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF VAS Insufficient Lonsec Research rating
ETFS Physical Gold GOLD Insufficient Lonsec Research rating
iShares Core Cash ETF BILL Cash and currency securities not eligible
iShares Enhanced Cash ETF ISEC Cash and currency securities not eligible

How much can you invest in each ETF?

To help you keep your super investments diversified, we set a maximum exposure limit on how much of your Self Invest balance you can invest in each particular ETF.

This approach benefits you as an investor because it identifies high quality ETF providers, with ETFs of significant scale, liquidity, and affordability.

1. The ETFs available through Self Invest could change from time to time.