For a long time, property has been Australians’ go-to way to build wealth.

But with house prices getting further out of reach, more people are turning to the stock market.

And new CommSec data gives us a pretty good idea of how Australians are investing across different generations.

The figures cover more than 2 million customers, and there are some pretty big differences depending on age.

I think they’re worth looking at, particularly if you’ve ever wondered whether your own portfolio is ahead or behind.

So, how do you compare?

How much does each generation have invested?

According to CommSec, Gen Z investors have an average portfolio of around $20,000.

That might not sound like much, but many of these investors are only just getting started.

Millennials are quite a bit further ahead, with an average portfolio of around $66,000.

Then we get to Gen X.

The average Gen X investor has around $233,000 in the market, while Baby Boomers are sitting on an average portfolio of roughly $541,000.

But I don’t think investors should look at those numbers and get worried if they’re behind.

Everyone is in a different position.

Some people might have more money tied up in property or superannuation, while others may have only started investing recently.

Still, I think these figures are a pretty good reminder of what can happen when you keep investing for a long time.

Where should you be?

I don’t believe there’s one magic number to look at here.

If you’re in your 20s, I think getting started matters more than worrying about whether you have $10,000 or $30,000 invested.

In your 30s and 40s, regularly adding to your portfolio can really start to make a difference.

And once you reach your 50s and 60s, the amount you have invested can become much bigger after decades of contributions and compounding.

Keep in mind, the average Baby Boomer portfolio of $541,000 wasn’t built overnight.

That balance likely took many, many years to reach.

And that’s probably the biggest lesson here.

What’s the best way to invest?

The share market doesn’t need to be as complicated as many investors make it.

You don’t need to find the next stock that doubles in six months or try to perfectly time every move in the market.

For most investors, building a diversified mix of quality ASX shares, international shares or low-cost ETF’s is a good place to start.

The key is being consistent.

For example, investing $500 each week works out to $26,000 a year.

Do that for 10 years, and you’ve put $260,000 into the market before even including any investment returns or dividends.

Of course, not everyone can invest $500 a week.

But whatever the amount is, I think the important thing is to keep adding to your portfolio and give your investments time to grow.

The post Australians are investing earlier than ever. How does your portfolio stack up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you’re hoping to grab the final Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) dividend, and you don’t own the stock yet, then time is running short.

As you’re likely aware, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) airline suspended its twice-yearly passive income payments in 2020. That came as the global travel bans initiated during the COVID pandemic saw the company’s revenues dry up and profits turn to losses.

But as the pandemic faded into history and global travel resumed, so too did the Qantas dividend in April 2025.

As for the upcoming passive income payout…

What’s happening with the final Qantas dividend?

Qantas reported its full year FY 2026 results on 27 August.

Impacted in part by soaring jet fuel costs following the onset of the Iran war, the airline reported a 13.8% year-on-year decline in underlying profit before tax to $2.06 billion.

With profits slipping, management declared a fully franked final Qantas dividend of 19.8 cents per share.

While that’s down 25% from last year’s final dividend payout, the Qantas share price has also slumped 23.7% in 12 months, recently trading for $8.96.

So, the fully franked 2.2% instant yield you’ll be getting from the upcoming final dividend will be broadly in line with what investors received last year. And adding in the benefits of those franking credits, this equates to a grossed-up yield of 3.2%.

Not bad.

Now, if you want to bank that final Qantas dividend, you’ll need to own shares at market close today. Qantas trades ex-dividend tomorrow, 15 September. You can then expect to receive that passive income payout on 14 October.

How has the Iran war impacted the Qantas shares?

Qantas shares have caught headwinds from the Middle East conflict on two fronts.

First, the Iran war has negatively impacted the demand for international business and tourist travel.

Second, the virtual closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route has sent jet fuel costs soaring.

Commenting on the impact of the Iran war, which was partly responsible for the lower final Qantas dividend, CEO Vanessa Hudson said:

The final four months of the year saw business and consumer confidence fall as the conflict and economic headwinds created uncertainty, and some large corporates and government responded by managing their costs more tightly, reducing demand for travel.

In response to the surge in fuel prices, we quickly adjusted fares and capacity, and redeployed aircraft to give customers more options to fly to Europe. These actions, along with other mitigations, limited the net impact on earnings to $420 million, despite a $610 million increase in our fuel bill.

The post Looking to bank the final Qantas dividend? You’d better hurry! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Last week served up a timely reminder that ASX shares can turn lower quickly. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) began the week above the psychologically important 9,000-point mark, a level it had comfortably held for more than a month.

By the end of the week, however, the benchmark had fallen more than 3% to around 8,741 points.

That sharp move may have investors asking an uncomfortable question: are we watching the beginning of a broader stock market crash?

The truth is that nobody knows when the next crash will happen. What history does tell us is that severe market declines are an unavoidable part of investing.

Rather than attempting to predict the next sell-off, I prefer to prepare for one. That means stress-testing my portfolio and asking whether I could remain rational if ASX shares suffered a much steeper decline.

Could you survive a 30% downturn?

Market crashes can seem like distant possibilities when share prices are rising. But investors only need to look back to early 2020 for a reminder of how quickly conditions can change. During the COVID-19 panic, the ASX 200 plunged roughly 30% between January and March.

The next downturn could have an entirely different trigger. Its timing and severity are impossible to know.

So I ask myself a simple question: what would I do if my portfolio, with ASX shares fell 30% tomorrow? Would I panic and sell? Or would I be comfortable holding?

I also consider an even more extreme scenario. How would I react if my portfolio lost 50%?

These aren’t merely hypothetical exercises. Investors who haven’t considered their tolerance for substantial losses beforehand may be tempted to sell at precisely the wrong moment.

If a 30% or 50% decline would make you sell, it could be worth reassessing your portfolio’s risk profile now.

Is your portfolio too concentrated?

Diversification can provide an important buffer against company-specific and sector-wide shocks.

For example, owning several ASX shares doesn’t necessarily mean you’re well diversified if most of your money is concentrated in a few companies, sectors or economic themes. Investors should consider how much exposure they have to major names such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), among others.

Holding businesses across different industries and, where appropriate, different asset classes can help reduce concentration risk.

Do you have an emergency cash buffer?

A market crash becomes much more painful when you need to sell shares to cover an unexpected expense.

Keeping an emergency fund outside your investment portfolio can provide breathing room. It means you’re less likely to be forced into selling quality ASX shares simply because you suddenly need cash.

Will you be ready to buy?

A crash isn’t necessarily just a threat. It can also create opportunities.

When fear dominates the market, excellent businesses can sometimes become available at substantially lower prices. But taking advantage of those opportunities requires capital.

If every dollar is already invested, investors may have little flexibility when attractive ASX shares go on sale.

Foolish takeaway

Nobody knows when the next crash will arrive or how severe it will be.

That’s why I don’t think predicting it is the most productive goal. Instead, I’m focusing on knowing my risk tolerance, maintaining sensible diversification, keeping an emergency cash buffer and having a plan for deploying capital.

The goal isn’t to predict the crash. It’s to make sure you’re ready when it comes.

The post Are ASX shares heading for a crash? Here’s how I’m preparing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.