Finding the right stocks for your portfolio and having the willingness to hold on to great businesses through the ups and downs of the market isn't easy. But if the alternative is trying to time the market's whims, which few investors have a chance of doing correctly and consistently, the pros of being a long-term investor far outweigh the cons. If you invest in companies for the long haul with a minimum buy-and-hold horizon of five years or more, you will experience rough patches in the market. Historicall ...