1. A method for facilitating complex multi-stage transactions between prospective customers and providers of products and services, the method including the following steps: (a) hosting on a first computer a first application that is accessible by a prospective customer of a provider offering to sell one or more products or services; (b) employing on the first computer a first virtual character in the first application to interact with and engage the prospective customer, during a first stage of a complex transaction, regarding the products and services offered by the provider; (c) employing on the first computer the first virtual character to interact with and educate the prospective customer, during a second stage of the complex transaction, regarding the characteristics and suitability to the prospective customer of the products and services offered by the provider, wherein the first virtual character: (i) poses one or more questions to the prospective customer, (ii) obtains data from the prospective customer in response to such questions, and (iii) provides educational material to the prospective customer that is tailored to such data; and (d) enabling the prospective customer, via the first computer, during a third stage of the complex transaction, to purchase one or more of the products and services offered by the provider.