Something I was told in my Psych class is that women don't actually want advice, they want someone to listen. You never interrupt them when they are ranting for any question whatsoever. The only advice they want is the thing they want to do. For example if they rant on about their boyfriend and say they aren't sure whether or not to break up with him, but they are leaning toward breaking up with him, they will only enjoy your advice if you say that she should break up with him.
Aka: women almost never need advice, just an ear. I've experienced only way too much of that shit and found it to be true.
As for guys, they do need advice, not just someone to listen most of the time.