If you were to write a speech of 5 -7 minutes, the key for any topic is to narrow the field and talk about 3 main points. While humans are complex, apparently we tend to remember 3 topics, after that the majority will begin to gloss over. The narrowing of the field means for any subject that can be found, there is much to be said about it. Hopefully, the reason you picked the topic is you are passionate about the topic, your listeners may not be, so you must narrow your topic without diluting the importance of it. Next you would pick 3 points you wish to leave with the audience. Your sincereity, word selection, enthusiasm, and voice will let your audience know how much you care about the topic.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, there are many methods to pick stocks that pays a dividend. To narrow the field even more according to John Heinzl of the Yield Hog (jheinzl@globeandmail.com), Donald Taylor,  investment manager for Franklin US Rising Dividends Fun uses 3 tests – each stock have raised its dividend in at least 8 of the past 10 years; have at least doubled its dividend of the past 10 years; and be trading in the lower half of its 10-year price to earning range. Note within the tests is the variable the company has been paying dividends longer than 10 years. If you take the companies that pay dividends, which most companies on the exchange do not, then take those that have been paying for longer than 10 years, it narrows the field even more. 5 companies Mr. Taylor likes are Chevron, Pentair Ltd, Air Products and Chemicals Inc, Dover Corp and United Technologies.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions