Using Morningstar, I see that when dividends are reinvested, SCHD runs neck-to-neck with VTSMX (Vanguard Total Index), VFINX (Vanguard S&P), VYM (Vanguard High Yield) for the last 5 years.
A $10K invested on 4/28/2012 becomes, on 4/27/2017, $18,715 for VTSMX, $18,807 for VFINX, $18,596 for SCHD, and $18,721 for VYM. Looks like there is no difference whether you invest in all large cap, or just large cap value stocks. The total return is the same, whether it is more in capital gain or in dividend.
To see over a longer period, I look at 10-year past performance. SCHD's inception is in 2011, so it does not go back that far. But what I found surprising is there is still little difference between dividend stocks (VYM) and the total market, even at the bottom of the crash in 2009.
A $10K invested on 4/28/2007 becomes $4,754 for VTSMX, $4,773 for VFINX, and $4,507 for VYM, at the bottom of the Great Recession on March 2009.
So, the OP can certainly invest in SCHD. It is rated 4-star by Morningstar. The expense of 0.07% is pretty darn good. One can do worse that that. It does not provide the guarantee that the OP was hoping for. Looks like nothing will either (and still provides some growth prospect).