I think the market crash this year has demonstrated why having a balanced and diversified portfolio is very important.
Luckily for investors, diversification isn't that hard to achieve. Four shares which I think would be good starters are listed below:
Aventus Group (ASX: AVN)
If you don't have exposure to real estate, then Aventus could be worth considering. It is a retail property company specialising in large format retail parks. Its rental income has a reasonably high weighting towards everyday needs, with homewares, electrical, furniture, bedding and hardware making up the balance. I think this is a good mix and makes it one of the better options in the sector.
iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
The iShares S&P 500 ETF is an exchange traded fund that gives investors exposure to the 500 shares listed on Wall Street's famous S&P 500 index. This index is home to many of the largest and most well-known companies in the world. This includes Apple, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, McDonalds, Microsoft, Visa, and Walt Disney.
Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)
The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF is probably as diverse as you can get with shares. This exchange traded fund gives investors exposure to a total of 1,579 of the world's largest companies listed in major developed countries. Amongst its holdings are the likes of Apple, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, and Google parent, Alphabet
Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW)
Finally, I think this conglomerate could be another way to add a bit of diversification to your portfolio. As well as its supermarkets, Woolworths is responsible for a wide range of businesses in different markets. These include Big W, BWS, Dan Murphy's, and a large number of hotels/pubs. Given the positive outlooks for the majority of these businesses and their defensive qualities, I think Woolworths could be worth considering.
