Retiring at 55 is an ambitious goal, but the right investment portfolio can make it far more achievable. For investors pursuing early retirement, the focus should be on owning high-quality assets capable of growing wealth over the long term while also providing some income along the way.

A mix of proven ASX shares and diversified ETFs can be a powerful combination. Here are five investments I’d consider for investors aiming to build wealth and potentially retire earlier than the traditional retirement age.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers has been one of Australia’s great long-term wealth creators.

The company owns a collection of market-leading businesses, including Bunnings Group, Kmart, Officeworks, and a growing portfolio of healthcare and industrial assets.

Its strength lies in diversification, strong management, and an ability to allocate capital effectively. Over decades, Wesfarmers has repeatedly reinvested profits into growth opportunities while delivering attractive shareholder returns.

For investors with a long time horizon and aiming for early retirement, those qualities can be extremely valuable.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie Group is another business that has consistently rewarded patient shareholders eying retirement at 55 or earlier.

Often described as Australia’s investment bank, Macquarie has built a global platform spanning infrastructure, asset management, renewable energy, commodities, and financial services.

One of its biggest strengths is its ability to identify emerging investment opportunities and scale them globally.

As infrastructure investment and the energy transition continue to expand worldwide, Macquarie remains well-positioned to benefit from long-term structural growth trends.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

This popular ASX ETF provides broad exposure to Australia’s largest listed companies.

The ETF holds leading businesses such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL).

For investors seeking simplicity, VAS offers instant diversification across the local share market while also providing exposure to Australia’s relatively strong dividend culture.

It can serve as a reliable core holding within a retirement-focused portfolio.

Betashares Global Shares ETF (ASX: BGBL)

Betashares Global Shares ETF helps retirement investors look beyond Australia’s borders.

The ETF owns hundreds of companies across developed markets, including many of the world’s largest and most successful businesses.

Its top holdings include Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Global diversification can reduce reliance on the Australian economy and provide exposure to industries that are underrepresented on the ASX.

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF adds a growth engine to the early retirement portfolio.

The ETF tracks many of the world’s leading technology and innovation businesses, including Microsoft, Apple, and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA).

Technology has been one of the strongest long-term wealth creation themes globally. While NDQ can be more volatile than broader market ETFs, its exposure to innovation leaders offers significant long-term growth potential.

Foolish takeaway

For investors targeting early retirement, combining quality ASX shares such as Wesfarmers and Macquarie with diversified ETFs can create a portfolio capable of compounding wealth over many years.

While no investment guarantees early retirement, owning great businesses and broad market ETFs gives investors a strong foundation for pursuing that goal.

The post Chasing early retirement at 55? These ASX shares and ETFs could help appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Wesfarmers shares still look like a top buy to me
• ASX 200 retail shares outperform on growing hopes interest rates have peaked
• Where should I invest inside SMSFs instead of property?
• How to invest $500, $5,000, and $50,000 on the ASX
• 3 top ASX shares to buy for an SMSF

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, CSL, Macquarie Group, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, BHP Group, CSL, Macquarie Group, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) consumer discretionary shares led the 11 market sectors last week with a 3.61% gain.

Meanwhile, the ASX 200 Index drifted 0.73% lower to finish at 8,764.2 points on Friday.

Economic data released last week suggests the Reserve Bank (RBA) may keep interest rates on hold for a while.

Unemployment fell 0.1% to to 4.4% and annual inflation dropped 0.2% to 4% in May, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) economist Ashwin Clarke said a 1.3% increase in household spending last month “surprised markets to the upside”.

Analysts are pricing in an 81% chance that the RBA will keep interest rates on hold at the next meeting on 11 August.

This is why ASX 200 retail shares outperformed their peers last week.

Let’s take a look at some individual company performances.

Consumer discretionary shares led the ASX sectors last week

The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price rose 5.81% to finish at $90.74 on Friday.

Shares in gaming technology company Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) lifted 6.81% to $58.69.

The Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC) share price rose 1.26% to $5.63.

The JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) share price ascended 4.98% to $81.84 on Friday.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares increased 7.42% to $20.27.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) shares ripped 8.64% to $6.16.

The Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) share price rose 1.04% to $4.88.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) shares finished the week steady at $13.12.

ASX 200 travel share Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) managed a 0.52% lift to $11.99.

Shares in Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) rose 2.45% to $14.65.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) shares rose 6.9% to close the week at 31 cents per share.

The Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) share price inched 0.38% ahead to $31.43.

Not all ASX 200 retail shares followed the trend.

The Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) share price tumbled 13.68% to $110.78.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) shares dropped 4.5% to $21.43 apiece.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) shares eased 0.68% to $23.25.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

S&P/ASX 200 market sector	Change last week
Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ)	3.61%
Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ)	3.26%
Utilities (ASX: XUJ)	2.42%
Healthcare (ASX: XHJ)	1.64%
A-REIT (ASX: XPJ)	1.62%
Industrials (ASX: XNJ)	1.31%
Financials (ASX: XFJ)	(0.02%)
Communication (ASX: XTJ)	(1.22%)
Materials (ASX: XMJ)	(4.06%)
Energy (ASX: XEJ)	(4.13%)
Information Technology (ASX: XIJ)	(5.19%)

The post ASX 200 retail shares outperform on growing hopes interest rates have peaked appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where should I invest inside SMSFs instead of property?
• Buy, hold, sell: Beach Energy, Flight Centre, and Judo Capital shares
• How to invest $500, $5,000, and $50,000 on the ASX
• 3 top ASX shares to buy for an SMSF
• 6 ASX shares with upgraded ratings from experts this week

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Light & Wonder Inc, Lovisa, Super Retail Group, Temple & Webster Group, The Lottery Corporation, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd, Flight Centre Travel Group, Light & Wonder Inc, Lovisa, Myer, Premier Investments, Temple & Webster Group, The Lottery Corporation, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are times when the market gives investors a better price for businesses that still have plenty going for them.

I think this could be one of those moments for two ASX 200 shares that have just fallen to 52-week lows.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) hit a 52-week low of $131.07 on Friday, while Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) shares dropped to a 52-week low of $68.70.

I see those prices as a chance to look again at two high-quality businesses with long-term growth potential.

REA Group shares

REA Group is one of the ASX businesses I would be happy to own for the long term.

The share price has come under pressure for a few reasons. Proposed changes to negative gearing, higher interest rates, and housing market weakness have all weighed on sentiment toward the property sector.

I can understand why investors are cautious. If sellers hold back, listings volumes can soften, and that can affect a business like REA.

But I think a lot of that concern is now reflected in the share price.

REA still sits close to one of the most important financial decisions many people make: buying and selling property. When someone is searching for a home, checking a suburb, comparing prices, finding inspection times, or contacting an agent, the process often starts online.

That is a powerful position because property advertising has high intent. A serious buyer is valuable to agents, sellers, developers, lenders, and other related businesses.

I also think REA has more ways to grow than just waiting for listing volumes to improve. It can keep improving the consumer experience, offer agents better digital tools, expand premium products, and use data to make the property search more useful.

If interest rates ease, I would expect housing confidence and listing activity to recover over time. At this lower price, I think REA is worth buying before that rebound becomes obvious.

Hub24 shares

Hub24 is another ASX 200 share I would buy after its recent pullback.

The company is exposed to a part of the financial system that keeps becoming more demanding. Financial advisers are dealing with more complex client needs, more reporting requirements, more investment options, and higher expectations around transparency.

That creates a real operational challenge. A strong wealth platform can help advisers manage portfolios, reporting, tax information, managed accounts, and client communication more efficiently. That is where Hub24’s appeal sits for me.

It is not just a business collecting funds under administration. I think it is becoming part of how advisers run their practices.

Australia’s wealth pool remains large, and the need for advice should continue as more people navigate retirement, superannuation, inheritance, and portfolio decisions. If Hub24 can keep making life easier for advisers and their clients, it should have a long runway for growth.

The risks include competition, valuation, market movements, and weaker investor sentiment toward growth shares. But I think Hub24 still has the usefulness and customer relevance to become more valuable over time.

Foolish Takeaway

I like using market pullbacks to revisit businesses with strong positions and clear long-term demand.

Neither of these ASX 200 shares needs perfect conditions to be attractive. They need to stay useful, keep improving their platforms, and remain important to the customers who rely on them.

At these lower prices, I think both are worth buying now.

The post 2 quality ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Karoon Energy, Brambles, REA shares
• Why these top fundies are buying REA and TechnologyOne shares
• 3 quality ASX shares I’d buy (that aren’t CBA or Wesfarmers)
• 5 ASX growth shares I want in my portfolio in FY27
• These ASX 200 shares are down 40% to 65% and could be bargain buys

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.