so, what id like to do is invest bitcoins to a stock or mutual fund account, but am not sure the best way to go about it. any tips/advice?
I don't think there are any bitcoin mutual funds, yet.
Buy and hold strategy with respect to Bitcoin is more popular, than investing it.
Yes investing is too risky. Its better to buy and hold. wait for the time that its price become low and buy it after that just hold it into your wallet and wait for it to increase its price. In investment you are not 100% sure that you can get profit from it than buying and holding it.