Advised SMSFs have been strong users of exchange-traded funds (ETF), employing them to diversify beyond leading Australian stocks, but to also access overseas markets at rates much higher than non-advised funds, according to a stockbroking firm.
Ausiex strategic relationships national manager Christopher Hill said advisers allocated around 44 per cent of SMSF portfolios to ETFs in 2025 compared to self-directed SMSF investors, who held only 9.3 per cent of their portfolios in ETFs based on an analysis of Ausiex SMSF trading accounts.
Hill added the analysis showed a number of key differences in the investment strategies of advised and self-directed investors, which was reflected in the top 20 holdings of each SMSF cohort.
Advised SMF clients held a range of banking, resources and retail stocks, as well as eight ETFs with different strategies and exposures to Australian and international equities. In comparison, the top 20 holdings for self-directed investors included a similar stock mix, but only two ETFs and two listed investment companies.
At the same time, advised SMSFs had a larger weighting to international funds at 23.9 per cent of their total holdings in listed global equity vehicles compared to self-directed SMSFs at 6.4 per cent.
“The role of advisers in actively managing portfolios for risk and return is apparent in the trading patterns on our platform. They are taking advantage of the wide range of listed securities now available to construct whole portfolios – not just buying ordinary shares for clients,” Hill said.
“Advisers have a strong appreciation of the fact that Australia accounts for around only 2 per cent of global share markets and are expanding clients’ portfolios offshore at a rapid clip – whether that be through pooled listed vehicles or, increasingly, direct global equities.
“Five of the top 20 holdings of advised SMSFs at 13 February 2026 were international equity ETFs, which shows the real extent to which Australians can use the local share market to build core positions in global shares.
“It’s noteworthy that those funds aren’t just plain vanilla passive vehicles, but include strategies which enable advisers to optimise portfolio performance – from currency hedging to ‘quality’ investing.”
He added fixed-income ETFs were also attracting strong attention from SMSF investors and the net value traded of Australian dollar fixed-income ETFs among SMSFs rose 46.6 per cent year on year, with 96 per cent of the net value traded coming from advised SMSFs.
“Advised SMSFs are becoming significant participants in fixed-income markets. Their allocation decisions are actively reshaping flows and cementing ETFs as a core fixed-income building block in portfolios,” he said.
