We've all heard the old investing adage "buy low, sell high" -- which is sound (if obvious) investing "advice." But as common-sensical as that particular truism seems, following it can sometimes be downright painful. Some stocks never look "low," after all, and passing them up because their multiples seem rich can take a toll on your portfolio.

For example
Consider the cases of Genentech (NYSE:DNA), Apple Computer (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX). Here we have a power trio of growth stocks that sport five-year earnings-growth estimates in excess of 20%, and trailing-12-month price-to-earnings ratios that leave their respective industry averages in the dust.

All of which comes as no surprise: Over time, each has delivered the market-beating goods for investors. Not coincidentally, their forward-looking P/Es are plenty juicy as well.

That said
The flip side with highfliers, of course, is that they can sometimes take you for a wild ride on the road to investment riches. All the above have certainly experienced performance gyrations, which begs this question: If you're the kind of investor who wants the gain but prefers to keep the potential pain to a minimum -- and aren't we all? -- what's the best way to proceed with apparently pricey growth stocks?

Two words: mutual funds. Genentech, Apple, and Starbucks all appear in the lineup of one of my favorite mutual funds, a pick that's risen nearly 30% since I first recommended it to members of the Fool's Champion Funds investing service. Because those names appear in a well-diversified portfolio that also includes Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), and eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY), investors here have been treated to a relatively smooth ride, too.

To wit: Despite the fund's focus on growth stocks, it has been only slightly more volatile than the broad-market-tracking Vanguard 500 Index (FUND:VFINX) for the five years that ended with August. Over that same period, moreover, our Champ has struck a slightly milder profile than its typical Morningstar peer -- all while pole-vaulting over roughly 90% of its like-minded competitors.

The Foolish bottom line
If you're looking to wade into the potentially choppy waters of growth stock investing, good for you: With greater risk comes the potential for greater reward. That said, I think you'd be Foolishly wise to consider getting the job done with a well-chosen mutual fund, a pick that provides plenty of bang for your growth-investing buck and the peaceful easy feeling that comes with owning a stake in a well-diversified portfolio.

If you'd like to sneak a peek at all the funds I've recommended since Champion Funds first opened for business, just click here and snag a free 30-day guest pass. There's no obligation to stick around if you find it's not your cup of tea, so go ahead and give the service a whirl. As you'll see, it's entirely possible to invest in high-flying growth stocks and sleep well at night, too.

Shannon Zimmerman runs point on the Fool's Champion Funds newsletter service, and at the time of publication didn't own any of the securities mentioned above. Starbucks and eBay are Stock Advisor recommendations. Microsoft is an Inside Value recommendation. You can check out the Fool's strict disclosure policy by clicking righthere.