The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in equity securities of companies with a market capitalization of over $1 billion and a history of paying dividends, with the ability to increase dividends over time. Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend paying equity securities. The fund may also invest up to 50% of its common stock allocation in foreign securities, including ADRs and emerging market securities.