"Investors have fared well in US Treasuries, the top-performing asset class in 2008 with returns approaching 6.8%; but for new money Treasuries seem less compelling given the current paltry yields," says Benjamin Shepard.

In Personal Finance, explains, "To capture higher yields while taking advantage of the security of government debt, we're adding Fidelity Ginnie Mae (FGMNX) to our bond holdings."

"Government debt still makes sense from a safety standpoint, particularly if you're able to realize higher yields. Debt issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) is the way to do that.

In these times of economic uncertainty many investors are taking a closer look at bonds and bond funds. But if individual investors are looking for a safe place to grow their savings, they should select funds carefully.

As the New York Times observed in a December 26 piece, Older Investors Should Examine the Risks in Bonds, "Because conditions may worsen before they improve, older investors should check that their bond investments are indeed what they thought they were--and that they fit their tolerance for risk." The article quoted Financial Counselors bond manager Gary Cloud: "We are in a 2 to 3 percent world, and if they want to earn more than that they need to proceed cautiously."

A WSJ January 4 piece In Search of Wall Street Bargains, carried Morningstar analyst Lawrence Jones' assessment of 2008 as an "absolutely brutal year" for most bond investors and observed: "Bond prices tumbled as investors anxious about the economic slowdown dumped corporate bonds and other obligations that carry the risk of default." Meanwhile, Treasury securities and the funds composed of them "delivered strong returns as investors bid up the prices of these safe havens."

Also on January 4, a Chicago Tribune piece, Bonds may be a shield, but they're still risky, echoed this theme. Noting that Steve Savage, editor of No-Load Fund Analyst, has advised individual investors to consider corporate bond funds and even high-yield bond funds, the Tribune warned, "Whenever yields are high, there is a good chance that financially stressed companies won't be able to repay their debts. In other words, bonds would default and investors would lose money."

"Like other US Treasuries, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPs) have virtually no credit risk," explains fund expert Mark Salzinger.

The editor of The No-Load Fund Investor adds, "Unlike other US Treasuries beyond short-term bills, however, TIPs also have no inflation risk." Here, he looks at an EYF based on TIPs.

"Twice a year, TIPs' principal valuis are adjusted upward by the amount of the increase in the Consumer Price Index Urban (CPI-U), thus protecting their holders against increases in inflation.

"The total return of the bond equals its yield plus the change in principal value based on inflation, changes in real interest rates (published interest rates minus inflation) and supply-demand in the market for TIPs.

"TIPs' yields are lower than those of regular Treasury sercurities of similar maturities. That's one of the disadvantages of TIPs.

"The other is that any increase in principal value due to the biannual inflation adjustment gets taxed every year as if it were received income.

"The latest annual rate of inflation measured from last July to this July was 5.6%, the largest annual gain since way back in January 1991," observes Alexander Green.

Here, the investment director for the industry-leading The Oxford Club suggests that investors consider the iShares Lehman TIPS Bond Fund (ASE: TIP), noting, "This is a great way to buy a diversified portfolio of inflation-adjusted Treasuries and track them quite easily."

"The latest consumer price index figures were a bit of a shock; the annual rate of inflation measured from last July to this July was 5.6%, the largest annual gain since way back in January 1991.

"Despite these horrendous inflation figures, gold, mining shares and other inflation-sensitive indicators did nothing – or even fell. What gives?

"Remember that the market is always looking forward, not back. Investors are always more concerned with what lies ahead than what happened in the recent past. Next month or next year may be a different story entirely.

"That's why every investor should have a hedge in his portfolio, like inflation-adjusted Treasuries. These bonds are unique in the investment world. They are the only investment guaranteed to beat inflation. And they are great portfolio diversifiers. They don't march in step with either stocks or bonds.

In the latest issue of his industry leading No-Load Fund Investor, fund expect Mark Salzinger reviews convertible bond funds, highlighting his two favorites.

Here, the leading fund authority looks at Fidelity Convertible Securities (FCVSX) and the "more conservative" favorite, Vanguard Convertible Securities (VCVSX).

"Convertibles are hybrid securities, often slight below investment grade, which can be redeemed for stock at a predetermined price and quantity.

"Because their values are often closely correlated to the value of the underlying equities, convertible bonds have more capital appreciation potential also more volatility than plan vanilla corporate bonds. However, because the value of their interest payments creates a floor of value, they tend to be less volatile than stocks.

"Our top convertibles pick is Fidelity Convertible Securities. The fund has been managed by Tom Soviero since 2005, since when it has generated an annualized return of 11.7% vs. 5.7% for Merrill Lynch All Convertible Index.

"Soviero is one of Fidelity's best portfolio managers. He favors convertibles that trade in line with the movements of the underlying equity's price and he wants the underlying equity to have an inexpensive valuation.

"Buy bonds," says income expert Neil George, adding "More and more folks are heading for the door on stocks and are moving toward quality."

The senior editor of Personal Finance explains, "This means bonds-but not just any bonds: government and upper-tier corporate bonds." Here's a trio of favorites.

"We start with AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund (NYSE: AWF). This fund owns a collection of government and government agency bonds, along with some selected high-quality domestic and foreign corporates that add to our stability.

"We aren't just locked into the US and the US dollar; we have exposure to the best of Europe, Asia and elsewhere, too. The average duration (measurement of price against changes in yield) is a conservative but attractive 7.4 years.

"The fund generates a yield just shy of 8% and has given us a positive performance of near 100% during the past five years. It trades at a discount of more than 6% to meltdown value.