Paying bonuses to executives all in stock is one thing. One could argue that the top dogs can afford to be paid in paper. As you move lower down the food chain, though, it becomes a harder sell. Cash is king for most.

At Goldman Sachs (GS), the top dogs have decided to pay the partners 60 percent of their 2009 bonus in stock and the rest in cash, reports Dow Jones. The stock portion will vest over three years but cannot be cashed out for five years. There will likely be some private grumblings, but when you think about it, it's a good move. Not that it will assuage the public or hold off Congress. But it really hinders partners from jumping ship.

While Wall Streeters are chafing, the execs at the very top may see an opportunity to hang onto some talented folks, which dovetails with the public mood. We've gotten entirely too accustomed to instant riches. What happened to working for decades? 

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