Most of us have more than a passing knowledge of what dividends are. Those that do have some concept of what they can do to a portfolio understand that not all dividends are created equal. And none are guaranteed. They offer nothing spectacular and yet what they do offer has become much shinier in the last couple of weeks: more safety than the general marketplace, lackluster price gains which translate into lack of volatility in most cases and a market equaling return. And even with all of that, you can still muck it up in short order if you don’t know what you are doing.