3 ETFs to Buy and Hold Forever
Build Long-Term Wealth with These Reliable, Dividend-Paying Funds
If you’re looking for a simple way to build wealth, generate passive income, and stay diversified through all types of market conditions, you can’t go wrong with exchange-traded funds (ETFs)—especially those focused on dividend income and reliable growth.
Unlike individual stocks, ETFs give you exposure to a basket of companies, which spreads risk while offering the upside potential of major market themes. And when those ETFs are made up of high-quality companies that pay consistent dividends? You’ve got a long-term winner.
Below, we’ll explore three ETFs worth buying and holding forever. Whether you're a retiree seeking income, a younger investor focused on compounding, or just looking to stabilize your portfolio, these funds are solid long-term plays that do it all.
ETF: Vanguard Real Estate ETF (SYM: VNQ) If you're looking for exposure to real estate without owning physical property, the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) is one of the best ways to do it. With 160 holdings primarily in real estate investment trusts (REITs), VNQ gives investors access to residential, commercial, and industrial real estate companies that pay out consistent, often tax-advantaged dividends. REITs are legally required to pay out at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, making them a reliable source of income, particularly in inflationary environments when rents rise and property values appreciate. Some of VNQ’s largest holdings include:
What makes VNQ especially attractive right now is the potential recovery in commercial real estate (CRE). According to Deloitte’s 2025 Commercial Real Estate Outlook, the CRE market is showing signs of a bottom and could present a generational buying opportunity as the economy stabilizes and demand for commercial space rebounds. VNQ allows you to tap into that growth, all while collecting consistent income. For long-term investors who want exposure to real estate without the hassle of property management, VNQ is a no-brainer. |
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ETF: ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (SYM: NOBL) Dividend aristocrats are the gold standard of dividend payers. To qualify as a dividend aristocrat, a company must be part of the S&P 500 and have raised its dividend every year for at least 25 consecutive years. That means these firms have survived wars, recessions, pandemics, and every market cycle—and still paid investors more each year. Rather than cherry-picking individual aristocrats, you can buy them all in one place with the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL). This ETF holds 66 companies, including:
These are household-name blue-chip companies with a long history of weathering volatility while steadily growing earnings and dividends. The ETF itself has a 2.46% yield, and its performance has trended higher since its inception (except during the 2020 COVID crash, which hit the whole market). The expense ratio is reasonable at 0.35%, and you’re getting one of the most dependable dividend-based investment strategies on the market. If your goal is reliable income and long-term capital appreciation, NOBL deserves a spot in your core portfolio. |
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ETF: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SYM: SCHD) If you’re looking for an ultra-low-cost ETF that provides broad exposure to quality dividend stocks, look no further than the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD). This ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on high-dividend-paying U.S. companies with strong fundamentals, such as consistent earnings, healthy balance sheets, and long histories of dividend payments. With a rock-bottom expense ratio of just 0.06%, SCHD is one of the cheapest ETFs on the market—and it still delivers a generous 3.58% yield. Some of the fund’s top holdings include:
In total, SCHD holds over 100 dividend-paying stocks, giving you diversification, income, and growth in one tidy package. The fund has also outperformed many other dividend-focused ETFs over the last five years and continues to attract capital from investors seeking a combination of yield and reliability. Whether you’re reinvesting dividends to build wealth or living off them in retirement, SCHD is a “set it and forget it” kind of fund—the kind of ETF you can truly buy and hold forever. |
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Written by Ian Cooper