The real-money Inflation-Protected Income Growth portfolio attempts to build an income stream that grows every year at least in line with inflation. The primary strategy it uses to strive for that goal involves buying shares of companies that pay dividends, have recently raised their dividends, and look capable of continuing to raise their dividends.

In the brief video below, portfolio manager Chuck Saletta talks about how diversification was the primary thing that kept Intel (INTC 1.77%) out of the portfolio:

Intel's recent decision to hold its dividend steady rather than increase it came just after Microsoft's (MSFT -2.45%) earnings-related weakness last week. That back-to-back punch from those related companies drives home just how important diversification can be in protecting an investor's portfolio. 

For more on the diversification decision that kept Intel out of the portfolio and the factors that helped Texas Instruments (TXN 0.25%) make the cut instead, click here to check out Texas Instrument's selection article.

To follow the iPIG portfolio as buy and sell decisions are made, watch Chuck's article feed by clicking here. To join The Motley Fool's free discussion board dedicated to the iPIG portfolio, simply click here.