Key topics:Parent uses Ricardo portfolio to teach sons investing early.Sons choose own stocks: local retailers vs S&P 500 ETF.Monthly payments reinforce learning and “skin in the game.”.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..By Justin Ashley.I thought I would just drop you a line to tell you a little story about our family. I have two sons, aged 21 and 16. I’ve been wanting to get them to understand investing for a while now - I want to give them something I never had as a kid myself.Your Ricardo portfolio launch was the trigger for me! I set up an EasyEquities account for both of them, and I now “pay” them each month to watch your portfolio update with me. Payment takes the form of a R500 transfer into their EE accounts, with the condition that the 500 MUST be invested (and if they don’t watch the video, they don’t get their R500 - haven’t missed one yet!) I don’t tell them what to invest in - just to watch your video and make their own investment decisions..Read more:.HCI validates call to add the deep value play to BizNews Shyft and Ricardo portfolios.It’s been fascinating to watch them. My 16-year-old put most of his first payment into Clicks and Pick n Pay - because “you should always invest in companies you know”. My 21-year-old put most of his money into an S&P 500 ETF.But each month, I’m watching their understanding of investments deepen. They’ll often pause your videos to discuss a point you’ve made, and they’re starting to think differently. And of course, they’ve now got “skin in the game”. Clicks has actually lost a few rand since Leo bought the shares, and I can see the wheels turning in his head about it!I’ve been a follower of yours for years. I’m so glad you started the Ricardo portfolio when you did, as it has given me the opportunity to give my kids a real, lasting gift. Glad, and grateful.Keep up the good work!