Building passive income is often made to sound far more complicated than it needs to be.

Many Australians assume it requires years of saving, deep knowledge of stock selection, or the ability to predict interest rates and economic cycles. That belief alone stops plenty of people from starting.

In reality, building a passive income portfolio can be remarkably simple. 

With a small starting balance, a handful of diversified ETFs, and a commitment to consistency, investors can begin today — even with as little as $500.

Keep it simple

One of the biggest advantages of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is diversification. Rather than relying on the fortunes of a few individual companies, an ETF provides exposure to…