I don't typically give providers advice on stock, so I've never stopped seeing one for that reason. I like being a regular, so I tend to see a single provider many times. The only reasons I've stopped is if she seemed to develop an odd attitude toward me, or it was just time to move on for the sake of the adventure.

I'd be interested to know if anyone has had any awkward break-ups, so to speak.

This isn't CNBC.

Anyone who thought the dot.com silliness - e.g. companies burning through money as fast as the VC's checks cleared - would last forever deserves what they got. Or was too greedy to diversify. Or was too lazy to do their own research and relied on 'hot tips'.

And now the pendulum is swinging back the other direction and good companies stock takes a beating every time there's any bad news.