We've talked in class a lot now about the differences between stocks and bonds and the advantages and disadvantages of investing in each. In Sivy's Mailbag, a Q&A column by Michael Sivy, CNN/Money contributing columnist, he gives his two cents on safest, most profitable way to combine investing in both. Some examples of topics covered are as follows:

"Q: Why do you advise owning stocks rather than mutual funds?
A: Funds are ideal for investors who are just starting out, even now, when the fund industry is under government scrutiny. ...

Q: Is there any reason to buy bonds now?
A: Income investments should still play a part in your total portfolio, but Treasury bonds are less attractive than they've been in a long time. The superior returns that most bonds have earned ...

Q: How beneficial is it when companies buy back their own stock?
A: Companies that regularly buy back their own shares can outpace comparable stocks by as much as three or four percentage points a year, on average..."