I look for minimal yields of 4%, hopefully 6% where the dividend is secure, the payout ratio of earnings not too high and the capacity and motivation of management to goose the payout steadily, 5% or better, annually.
What it means: Pension entitlements built up by public sector workers so far are safe, so a 58-year-old teacher who has been in the profession since his or her twenties will secure the payout they were expecting.
Brian Saxon, 38, claimed he had tried in vain to get an appointment with his MP when he was made redundant and was struggling to secure a payout from his firm.
West Ham United want to talk to Avram Grant after Saturday's FA Cup final with a view to installing him as the managerial successor to Gianfranco Zola, who was sacked this morning and faces an acrimonious battle to secure a payout.
Though Social Security does not contribute to the deficit, Schakowsky plans to secure future payouts without benefit cuts by increasing how much the wealthy pay into the retirement program.
Others say such people are trying to secure higher payouts as the spill worsens.
The failure to secure the payouts, which had been supported by Xstrata's board, led the company's chairman, John Bond, to say he would resign upon completion of the deal.
The investment is at least the seventh time since September that Berkshire has secured a payout of at least 10percentt by buying company bonds, preferred stock or convertible securities.
