Today’s average investor is almost as likely to hold exchange traded funds (ETFs) and cryptocurrency as term deposits, according to the ASX Australia Investor Study 2026. The study shows the degree to which portfolios were reshaped over the past three years in response to market trends.

• Shares listed on an Australian exchange are still a primary holding for most investors, though their dominance as a preferred investment has declined since 2023. Some 48% hold or trade Australian shares now, compared to 58% previously. Residential investment property remains the second most common investment, with 35% of investors owning or trading it.
• Exchange traded funds (24% today vs 20% in 2023) and cryptocurrencies (24% vs 15%) appear to have replaced a proportion of investors’ previous allocation to local shares. A small proportion of investors (4%) hold private market assets.
• Meanwhile, less people today own or trade traditional investments like unlisted managed funds (6% today vs 8% in 2023) and listed investment companies (7% vs 10%). 

Why it matters: The ASX study, which is based on a survey of close to 4,500 adults, suggests advisers should be prepared for client questions about a broader range of assets than previously – and be set up to efficiently trade most of them.

• Close to a quarter (24%) of on-exchange investors ranked diversification as a top investment goal in the study, a big increase relative to 2023 (20%).
• “The ASX study marries with trading patterns on our platform, which show that investors no longer just buy ordinary shares. They are willing to draw on a full range of securities to build portfolios which balance risk and return,” says Chris Hill, National Director of Distribution at AUSIEX. 

Drilling down: Residential investment property remains the biggest holding of investors on a dollar-weighted average basis, accounting for close to half (45%) of their portfolios.

• Among on-exchange investors, 40% of the average portfolio is allocated to listed investments. Half of that is invested in Australian listed shares. A further 9% is allocated to ETFs, followed by international shares (5%).
• The close to a quarter of investors who own cryptocurrency allocate only a small amount of their capital (4% on average) to it. This is the least of any individual asset class in the ASX study.

Bottom line: Nearly one million Australians intend to invest in the next 12 months, according to the ASX, and advisers best placed to capitalise may be those able to transact as seamlessly as possible across ASX-listed securities, global equities, cash and fixed interest.

• “Trading technology matters more than ever to the efficient management of a financial advice practice. Advisers who use robust portfolio administration platforms are able to dedicate more time to building the client relationships that underpin a successful business,” Hill says.

To find out more about how to optimise your ETF trade execution, contact your Account Manager or a member of our Business Development team.