My strategy/plan going forward

[qldfrog]

HIN

Holder
Identification
Number

meaning the ASX/CHESS identifies you as the beneficial holder

otherwise they would mostly likely be held in a trust structure

but you would have to dig into the fine print ( some ETFs do NOT hold any shares at all , only derivatives reflecting indirect exposure to the share movement , normally they are called 'synthetic ' )

In short, with an hin, you own legally the share and if your broker collapses, you still own them.
With no hin, you do not own them, just a promise on a value, probably a giant pool managed by a trust.
an extra risk

.