The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently released its 2016 Better Life Index of countries with the best quality of life.

To do this, the OECD studied 34 countries across 11 parameters of well-being, including work-life balance, financial wealth, safety, education, and environmental quality. It uses data from the United Nations, National Statistics Offices, and the Gallup Organization.

Check out the countries that scored the highest across every category.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best places for Americans to live in Canada

11. Netherlands — This country boasts one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The OECD found that students in the Netherlands score above-average in math, science, and reading comprehension tests.

10. Iceland — The country fell eight spots from last year's index. The percentage of Iceland's labor force that has been unemployed for a year or longer is at nearly 0.7%, lower than the OECD average of 2.6%.

9. The United States — Though it fell four spots from last year's Index, the US comes out on top in areas of housing, income, and wealth. The average household disposable income is $41,071 per year, the highest in OECD's study.

Whatever industry you're in, staying top of mind with clients is important. And there’s no better time to let clients know you're thinking of them and to say thanks for a great year of business than the holidays.

While fancy bottles of wine or a round of golf may have been the gold standard of corporate gifting in the past, times have changed. Today, showing clients you genuinely appreciate them with a thoughtful gift can go a long way when it comes to building new relationships, growing business, and improving satisfaction for years to come.

But picking the right gift for the right client is an art, so make sure to choose wisely. The recipient will appreciate when something is given with thought, personality, and sincerity in mind, so it's important holiday gifts convey that you really know your clients and don't just think of them as faceless accounts. 

Since the key to a memorable gift is personalization, here are six interest-spanning gift ideas for your clients this holiday season.

To find out more about the perfect holiday gift, visit curemasterreserveham.com.

This post is sponsor content from the makers of CUREMASTER RESERVE® hams.

For the techie

Shopping for a gadget-obsessed client who always seems to be ahead of trends? Nothing will beat the LIX 3D Pen this holiday season. It lets users explore new dimensions and spark creativity while drawing in the air. And really, what's more fun than creating what you dream? ($139)

For the foodie

When it comes to festive foods, nothing says the holidays like bone-in, spiral-sliced hams. So if your client is a culinary connoisseur, opt for the gift of a CUREMASTER RESERVE® ham. Not only has the maker of CUREMASTER RESERVE® ham perfected the art of making ham from the finest cuts of hand-trimmed meat, but you can customize each one to your client's taste by choosing between five ham varieties and six handcrafted glazes made from globally sourced ingredients. ($100)

For the traveler

From weeklong trips to there-and-back-in-a-day meetings, travel is often required to grow business relationships. And while they may seem like minor details, stylish travel accessories like customized luggage tags, passport cases, and toiletry cases from Mark and Graham can go a long way in making travel more organized and enjoyable for your clients. ($49-$100)

Donald Trump is officially the president-elect of the United States, and, come January, we'll have a new first family in the White House.

Trump has two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, and a daughter, Ivanka, with first wife Ivana; a daughter, Tiffany, with second wife Marla Maples; and a 10-year-old son, Barron, with current wife Melania. 

Having grown up in the spotlight, his three eldest children manged to find success and happiness while sidestepping the usual celebrity kid drama. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Tiffany recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and often hits the town with Manhattan's so-called "Rich Kids of Instagram." And young Barron is busy just hanging out on his own floor of Trump Tower.

Here's everything you need to know about each of the Trump heirs. 

DONALD JR., 38, son of Ivana 

A father of five, Donald Jr. was 12 years old when Ivana and Donald Sr. divorced. Unlike his younger siblings, he was old enough to understand what the nasty divorce headlines meant — his classmates were, too. 

As a child he was extremely close to his maternal grandfather, Milos, who passed away in 1990. The two would spend a couple of weeks every summer hunting and fishing in a town outside of Prague (Ivana is Czechoslovakian). The fast-talking Donald Jr. is fluent in Czech and named one of his sons Tristan Milos, after his grandfather. 

After boarding school (Pennsylvania's prestigious Hill School), he followed in his father's footsteps — as most of the Trump kids have — to The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate.

A 2004 New York magazine profile noted Donald Jr.'s propensity for drinking and getting into "do-you-have-any-idea-who-I-am? fights" in college, but he later told Forbes that his love of hunting kept him on the straight and narrow. "[While] other people I knew were getting into trouble, I was somewhere in a deer stand or going to bed early so I could be up before dawn to hunt turkeys," he said.

In 2001, a year after he graduated from college, Donald Jr. went to work for his dad for the second time. (The first time was when he was 13 and earning minimum wage plus tips as a dock attendant at Trump Castle.) Now an executive vice president of development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization, he cut his teeth with the development of Trump Place at West Side Yards and has gone on to spearhead projects in Chicago, Las Vegas, Scotland, and India. 

Thanks to a fix-up from his dad, he met his wife, Vanessa, at a fashion show. He caught a lot of heat for proposing to her in front of a jewelry store with a bunch of photographers standing by. The rumor mill called it a publicity stunt and claimed he'd gotten the $100,000 ring on trade. But as the happy couple has welcomed five children in the past seven years, that news story has long since been buried.  

IVANKA, 35, daughter of Ivana

Ivanka is the breakout success of the family. The same year that she and brothers Donald Jr. and Eric founded the Trump Hotel Collections, Ivanka launched a jewelry brand that has spawned clothing, shoe, and accessories lines carried by the likes of Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Zappos. 

An avid runner and former runway model, Ivanka is an executive vice president of acquisitions and development for The Trump Organization. But she didn't go straight from The Wharton School to an office at Trump Tower. She worked for real estate developer Bruce Ratner for a year after college. And a 2013 Forbes profile indicates that she politely declined a job offer from Vogue's Anna Wintour. 

Specializing in deal-making and design, Ivanka joined her dad's company in 2005. She was the lead negotiator on the purchase of Trump National Doral Miami, a $1 billion property that she scooped up for $150 million. 

Ivanka is private about her personal life, but before tying the knot with real estate and publishing scion Jared Kushner she was linked to Greg Hersch (now a wealth management SVP at UBS) and is said to have gone on a date with "That '70s Show" star Topher Grace. 

She met her match in Kushner. The two live in a $16 million penthouse atop Trump Park Avenue with their three children, Arabella Rose, Joseph Frederick, and Theodore James Kushner. Ivanka converted to Orthodox Judaism before her 2009 wedding and the family keeps kosher and observes the Sabbath. "From Friday to Saturday we don’t do anything but hang out with one another. We don't make phone calls," she told Vogue.

ERIC, 32, son of Ivana

For a long time, Eric was the six-foot-five, media-shy baby of the family. He told New York magazine that his brother Donald Jr. is like his mentor and Ivanka is like his second mother. "She took me under her wing and raised me, took me shopping, tried to make me cool," he said. 

Unlike his brother and sister, he chose Georgetown over Wharton and went straight to work for his father after he graduated. He has the same EVP of acquisitions and development title as his brother and sister, but his niche is said to be in construction. 

In 2012, he proposed to his then-girlfriend of five years, Lara Yunaska, at Seven Springs, his dad's $19.5 million Westchester estate, with a ring from sister Ivanka's fine jewelry collection. Yunaska is a former personal trainer and TV producer.  

The couple was married in front of 400 guests at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Eric's brother-in-law, Jared Kushner, officiated the wedding, reportedly telling Yunaska, "You are not just gaining a family, you are getting six million Twitter followers."

Eric also owns and operates Trump Winery, Virginia's largest vineyard, and has pledged nearly $28 million to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his Eric Trump Foundation.   

He and Lara split their time between Westchester and Manhattan, where Eric owns several different units at Trump Parc East.

TIFFANY, 23, daughter of Marla Maples 

Unlike her half-siblings, Tiffany didn't grow up playing in her father's office — nor did she spend her summers helping him fix up the grounds of Seven Springs. Tiffany was raised by mother Marla Maples outside of Los Angeles. There, she attended Calabasas' Viewpoint School, where tuition is more than $30,000 a year. 

Like her father, Tiffany graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Her sister Ivanka reportedly helped her snag an internship at Vogue, and in 2011 she dropped the single for her debut song, "Like a Bird." She also had a paid internship at Warby Parker this past summer and is studying to take the LSAT.

Some of her friends are Manhattan's so-called "Rich Kids of Instagram," including Peter Brant, Jr. (son of media mogul Peter Brant), Gaia Matisse (Henri Matisse's great-great-granddaughter), and EJ Johnson (Magic Johnson's son), star of E!'s "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" show. 

She loves to travel and her father's private jet comes in handy when she wants a change of scenery. 

BARRON, 10, son of Melania 

From the way Melania describes her 10-year-old son, he may be more like his father than any of his siblings. "He loves to build something and tear it down and build something else ... Sometimes I call him little Donald," she told Parenting.com. 

The young heir is said to prefer suits to sweatpants and has an entire floor to himself at his parents' Trump Tower penthouse. Melania famously told ABC News that she slathers Barron in caviar moisturizer from her now-defunct skincare line.

He celebrated his fourth birthday with his entire preschool class at Manhattan's Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, where the kids ate a cake shaped like Donald's private jet and went on submarine and airplane tours. 

Melania says he plays baseball and tennis, but has a proclivity for his dad's favorite sport: golf. His parents keep him out of the public eye as much as possible, but he regularly attends the Trump Invitational Grand Prix at Mar-a-Lago and, when he was younger, Melania always took him to the Upper East Side's hottest children's social of the year, the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Bunny Hop.  

April Walloga contributed reporting on a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: Trump and Obama meet at the White House to begin transition of power

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NOW WATCH: Anti-Trump protesters are starting fires and blocking freeways all around the country

Since July 2013, retirees Michael and Debbie Campbell have consecutively lived in 109 different homes around the world, all booked through room and apartment rental service Airbnb.

Later this summer, a visit to Poland will mark country No. 50.

Throughout their Airbnb-hopping adventure, the Campbells have become a poster couple for the Silicon Valley-based travel company. They've visited Airbnb offices in Portland, San Francisco, and Dublin, spoken at a company conference in Paris, and penned a forthcoming manual for Airbnb hosts called "Your Keys Our Home." They've also mastered the skill of traveling on a budget.

Business Insider recently caught up with Michael, 70, and Debbie, 60, over the phone from their Amsterdam Airbnb.

Scroll through to learn more about how they do it, and follow their adventure on their website, Senior Nomads.

DON'T MISS: I used my favorite money-saving trick to travel through the dreamy Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica

The Campbells' journey as self-proclaimed "Senior Nomads" began more than three and a half years ago when their daughter Mary was visiting them in Seattle for Christmas. Mary noticed a lengthy list of countries posted on the couple's fridge that they'd hoped to visit during their impending retirement.

Mary presented an idea: go visit those countries, but instead of spending money on pricey hotels, try an affordable rental service called Airbnb. Michael and Debbie were intrigued.

Michael, a former sports promoter, and Debbie, a graphic designer, had always been travelers, even moving themselves and their four young children from the US to London for five years to experience life overseas.

Some people believe Facebook played a dangerous role in the presidential election by feeding too many people fake news that validated their choice of candidate while vilifying the opponent.

Facebook and its News Feed algorithm is tuned to try to show you stuff you like. It doesn't necessarily distinguish between fact and fiction. In fact, last week, BuzzFeed documented how Trump supporters were being duped with an onslaught of fake news generated by more than 100 pro-Trump websites run from a single town in Eastern Europe.

This has been called the "filter bubble" — when after a while all you see are things you are likely to agree with, and you don't see news and other items that may alter, or even just inform, your worldview.

Facebook has been resisting this idea that it has a responsibility to present balanced news in its News Feed as if it were a news organization or a media company.

But facing criticism over the "filter bubble" and the part it may have played in the election, Adam Mosseri, VP of product management at Facebook, told TechCrunch's Natasha Lomas that Facebook is trying to do a better job of filtering out the fake stuff. He said he knows "there's so much more we need to do."

Mosseri first said this before Election Day, but it seems even more relevant now.

Facebook clearly doesn't want to become known as the platform of propaganda.

Here's the full statement from Mosseri (emphasis ours):

"We take misinformation on Facebook very seriously. We value authentic communication, and hear consistently from those who use Facebook that they prefer not to see misinformation.

"In Newsfeed we use various signals based on community feedback to determine which posts are likely to contain inaccurate information, and reduce their distribution. In Trending we look at a variety of signals to help make sure the topics being shown are reflective of real-world events, and take additional steps to prevent false or misleading content from appearing.

"Despite these efforts we understand there's so much more we need to do, and that is why it's important that we keep improving our ability to detect misinformation. We're committed to continuing to work on this issue and improve the experiences on our platform."

Interestingly, Facebook's admission that it could do more to inform people, instead of misinform them, comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a wistful note about the election, mentioning his daughter, Max (emphasis ours):

"This work is bigger than any presidency and progress does not move in a straight line. The most important opportunities of Max's generation — like curing all disease, improving education, connecting everyone and promoting equal opportunity — will take long term focus and finding new ways for all of us to work together, sometimes over decades. We are all blessed to have the ability to make the world better, and we have the responsibility to do it. Let's go work even harder."

SEE ALSO: Some people are blaming Facebook for Donald Trump's surprising victory

SEE ALSO: Facebook is once again putting the $41 billion computer network industry to shame

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NOW WATCH: This hidden iPhone feature will boost your reception

Saying "I do" is more than just a commitment to share your life with someone, it's also a pact to share your finances. Once you walk down the aisle, every money-minded decision you make — from saving for retirement to going out to lunch — affects your partner as well.

While there's no magic formula for a successful marriage, there are steps any couple can take to increase their chances of a long and happy life together, starting with their finances.

Business Insider spoke with multiple financial experts about what successful married couples do with their money. Here's what they had to say:

They put their cards on the table

As soon as they get married — or ideally, before — successful couples show their entire hand to their partner. That means coming clean about their salaries, credit card debt, student loans, credit score, and anything else that might affect their financial future as a couple.

"They should sit down and have a very open and honest discussion about their money and what they have," Pam Horack, CFP and "Your Financial Mom" at Pathfinder Planning LLC, told Business Insider. "That's really the first place to start, just to make sure and get organized so that they each know what the other person has."

They talk about money — a lot

When it comes to synthesizing money and marriage, it doesn't matter so much what couples do with their cash, but that they make decisions together and respect each other's opinions.

"Be open and be honest," Katie Burke, CFP at Wealth by Empowerment, told Business Insider.  "I think that having a disagreement — agreeing to disagree — is not a bad thing. Because hearing what someone else has to say, it may or may not make sense to you, but it helps to have another side to something. Be patient and just hear someone out."

Just as each relationship is unique, each couple's financial situation is as well. Spouses should discuss joint banking accounts, who's paying which bill, and how they want to use any discretionary income as a team. At the end of the day, it's all about clear communication.

"It's knowing what the other person is spending on or saying, 'Hey, this other person has $200 a month that I don't know what they're spending on, and that's okay.' It's being okay and trusting that other person that they can spend their money on whatever," Horack says.

They work toward specific goals

Successful couples come up with goals together and check in frequently to make sure they're on the same page.

"While you may have different ways you handle your money on the day to day, when you know what you're both collectively working towards for the long term, you'll be able to make decisions that help you get closer to these goals," Pamela Capalad, CFP and founder of Brunch and Budget, told Business Insider.

Do you want to purchase a home together? Are you saving up for kids? How much of your paycheck should go toward retirement? Successful couples talk about where every dollar is being spent and retool their goals annually, Burke says.

They divvy up responsibilities

Whether or not you open joint accounts, as soon as you get married tasks like paying the rent or mortgage, utilities, retirement accounts, and other expenses and bills become the responsibility of both parties. Successful couples don't assume their partner will take care of certain aspects, they work together to divvy up financial responsibilities.

"Decide how you're going to handle the finances and who is handling what," says Capalad. "There is no right answer, but it's important to be on the same page and not let it default to one person or the other without having a conversation about it."

They buy enough insurance

The biggest financial mistake Sophia Bera, CFP and founder of Gen Y Planning, sees 30-somethings make is being underinsured — especially if they have another person depending on them, such as a spouse or children.

"In your 30s a lot of people have kids, a lot of people are married, have homes, our lifestyle is a little bit more expensive, and we're also responsible for other people," Bera told Business Insider during a Facebook LIVE. "And oftentimes we are underinsured in terms of term life insurance."

When couples bind their lives together, it doesn't just create an emotional bond, but a financial one as well. If something were to happen to either spouse, it's better to be safe than sorry and know the other person is taken care of.

Bera recommends getting a term life insurance policy that's seven to 10 times your salary — enough to be able to cover your income, pay off a mortgage, and take care of your kids if anything were to happen to you.

They create a will

Though often overlooked, estate planning documents, such as wills, are key factors in a successful financial future. As soon as they walk down the aisle, couples should think about naming beneficiaries, healthcare proxies, and powers of attorney. When kids come into play, it's important to name guardians for them as well, Burke says.

Not only that, but couples should update these documents at least every five years, as goals and circumstances can drastically change over time, Burke says.  

They don't judge each other

Everyone has different priorities, and part of operating within a partnership is to respect your partner's choices. That includes keeping an open mind if your spouse's spending habits differ from your own.

"Don't judge what your spouse spends their money on," Capalad says. "If you truly think your partner has a spending problem, then it's time to have an honest and loving conversation with them. If you're just annoyed that they spent money on something that you would never spend money on, then take a step back, take a breath, and give your partner the benefit of the doubt."

Horack agrees. She emphasizes the importance of trusting your partner and letting them spend money on whatever makes them happy, as long as it's not to the detriment of your finances overall.

They live below their means

Just because you can technically afford a $500,000 house doesn't mean it's the best choice for your family or your finances. Purchasing a home at the top of your budget ties up cash you could be putting toward other goals, such as travel, college funds, or retirement savings.

"Spend less than you think that you need to," Horack advises.

She emphasizes that "everything we have … it's all temporary." Will you downsize after your kids head off to college? How long will you have your car before trading up to a newer model? At the end of the day, many 'big' purchases aren't as permanent as they seem.

They don't hide anything from each other

Successful couples "never hide [money] from each other and they never use it as a point of resentment or as a weapon in a conversation," Capalad says.

From revealing their credit card debt to discussing day-to-day purchases, couples in successful marriages aren't secretive about money. They're open with each other about their spending habits and aren't afraid to own up to their mistakes, Horack says.

She warns that hiding money mistakes from a partner can lead to distrust and create bigger issues down the line.

They set ground rules

Melding your finances with another person's can be overwhelming. Your spending habits are no longer purely your own; they affect someone else as well. That's why it's crucial to decide how and when you'll spend, and create a set of ground rules for handling money that works for both you and your spouse.

"[You] need to figure out how [you're] going to budget, that's the biggest thing," Horack says. "There's no wrong way to do it, but [you] both need to agree on what the process is, who's paying for what."

They have a prenup

"To people who are considering marriage, I highly recommend a prenuptial agreement," Burke says. "Unfortunately, most marriages end in divorce. So why not have that conversation when you can have the conversation? Not necessarily who's going to get the house, but the financial side of things."

If prenup talk seems like too loaded of a conversation to have before the wedding, Burke suggests discussing a post-nuptial agreement instead, where couples create the document together after they're already married. It serves the same purpose as a prenup, but allows the couple to discuss their options without the pressure of their impending wedding.

Even if they decide against getting a prenup, it's smart for couples to at least have the conversation.

They have fun together

"Dealing with your finances in general will always be stressful at one point or another, but at the end of the day, money is a means to an end, and part of that end is being able to nurture your relationship," Capalad says.

Money can be a point of contention, but successful couples don't let it run their relationship. They don't make it the ultimate goal, they use it to fuel other goals.

"When you can find ways to remind yourselves why you're together in the first place, it makes all the smaller arguments seem much less important," Capalad says.

SEE ALSO: A financial planner reveals the best money habit for 30-somethings

DON'T MISS: The 'bad' money advice people need to stop taking, according to former Wall Street executive Sallie Krawcheck

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NOW WATCH: 5 facts about relationships everyone should know before they get married

"Calexit," a campaign in California for the state to become an independent nation, has gone viral after Donald Trump won the race to the White House.

The Yes California Independence Campaign aims to put a referendum on a 2018 ballot that, if passed, would bring California one step closer to legally seceding from the union.

Far-fetched as it may sound, the campaign exploded from a fringe political group to a nationwide social media trend in a matter of hours as Californians came to terms with a Trump presidency.

The movement has at least one impressive backer in Shervin Pishevar, an early backer of Uber and a well-known angel investor who offered to bankroll the campaign on Twitter.

Yes California released a 33-page blue book on its website this year explaining its path to secession. It also provides clues as to what life might be like in a post-secession California.

To be clear, a state has not seceded from the union since the 1860s, and those 11 southern states rejoined after the American Civil War. The event that Calexit actually happens is unlikely, and we have no idea what the impact of a California exit might have.

But Yes California claims, at least, that a new California will be more or less the same.

If California broke away from the union — a process that would take years after the state election in 2018, when Californians will potentially (though unlikely) vote on a ballot initiative that gauges their support for secession — it would become a sort of sister nation of the US.

"We're not trying a 1860s breakaway," Louis Marinelli, president of Yes California, told The Los Angeles Times in 2015."We're talking about California being recognized as a nation within a nation, like Scotland in the United Kingdom. We feel California is more than just a state."

We don't know yet what kind of government, be it parliamentary or presidential, would take hold. Californians would choose the type of democracy it installs through a series of elections, according to the group's blue book. The country could craft an entirely new system, which sounds like it would change life quite a bit, contrary to Yes on California's claims.

Instead of paying taxes to the federal government, Californians would keep that money in the state. Yes California expects those tax dollars would increase California's budget by "hundreds of billions of dollars," seeing that the state has paid more in federal taxes than it has received in federal payouts (in the amount of double-digit billions) every year since 1995.

An independent California would continue to use American currency, the group hopes. The US dollar is a "'fully-tradeable' international currency, which means any country can use it if it wants to without requiring the US Government's permission."

Ecuador, El Salvador, and the British Virgin Islands, for example, use the US dollar.

The swirling uncertainty around Calexit, which has yet to get a formal response from Sacramento, the state's capital, prompts lots of questions.

The campaign's blue book at least addresses the more practical elements of life in California. What happens to our avocados? Could we still compete in the Olympics? (Answer is yes.)

The Golden State's ranches and farms raked in $47 billion in crop cash receipts in 2015. It produces over a third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of fruits and nuts, making California's agriculture industry the largest in the nation.

Booming agriculture could theoretically keep California's economy afloat post-secession. Yes California wants to reinvest the money the new country earns in global experts into environmental conservation, technological innovation, and road maintenance and transportation infrastructure. (It ignores the awkward transition that millions of Californians would have to make in turning their businesses into global ones.)

Worried about your social security dollars? Yes California thought of that, too.

The Social Security Administration allows US citizens living outside the country to receive retirement payment so long as they are eligible and reside in a country where the US can send money. People living in Cuba or North Korea, for example, must exit to get their money.

Still, it's impossible to know how Yes California's dreamy picture of California as an independent nation would play out in practical terms.

The blue book leaves a gaping hole in one important area, summarized in this tweet.

There's no clear path to supply the state's 38 million people with drinking water. While much of California's water comes from rain and snow that falls in the northern and eastern parts, the Colorado River also funnels water into drought-stricken western states including California.

While Southern California has invested more than $1 billion over the last decade to decrease its dependence on the Colorado, the state up and leaving the US would probably not bode well under the 94-year-old agreement between Colorado and its neighbors.

Yes California's response? "No water, no food."

Yes California has a short window to answer these questions and more.

As the campaign becomes inundated with new interest, following the election's biggest upset in political history, Yes California will face more scrutiny, as well. The group's Facebook page doubled in "likes" since November 8th, and gained just as many opponents on social media.

Curiosity may fade as quickly as it started unless Yes California finds followers beyond Facebook and Twitter's fleeting ones.

SEE ALSO: Californians are calling for a 'Calexit' from the US — here's how a secession could work

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NOW WATCH: People in California are calling for a 'Calexit' after Trump’s victory

Contrary to popular belief, there is a difference between a button-up shirt and a button-down shirt. Here's how to tell the difference. 

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As the end of the year approaches, there are so many things to take care of before the stroke of midnight on December 31 that holiday gifts are probably the last thing on anyone's business to-do list. But when it comes to boosting sales, motivating employees, and driving customer loyalty, corporate gifting is one of the simplest ways to check off all three. And if you can take care of all your corporate gifting needs seamlessly and in one go, why not take advantage? 

Thanks to Omaha Steaks, it's never been easier to fulfill all your corporate and business gift needs. From selection to delivery, Omaha Steaks will handle everything — all you need to do is click. Everyone loves great food, so this holiday season, don't just send a gift, deliver an experience.

To find out more about how Omaha Steaks can help you with holiday gifting this year, click here.

This post is sponsored by Omaha Steaks. 

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At some point in your career, you’ve probably been on the wrong side of a bad business gift. You toiled all year, sweating and slogging to make your numbers, only to have your effort rewarded with a branded mousepad — or worse. Bad gifts don’t motivate action. They don’t drive sales. They don’t build relationships. Meaningful gifts, on the other hand, can do all that and then some.

When you’re charged with selecting a holiday gift that represents your company, choose wisely. This decision can propel you headlong into the new year surrounded by inspired and eager clients, employees, and colleagues. Or it can leave you facing a tremendous uphill battle. Nobody has time for that.

Choose corporate holiday gifts that set the stage for another year of success. Here are five simple steps to ease the pressure and make it happen.

1. Determine your budget per gift.

So you’ve decided to give holiday gifts on behalf of your business. First, get a handle on your spend per gift. Starting your gift research with a budget in mind will make it easier for a business gift expert to help get you the best bang for your dollar.

Your budget may change as you learn what options are available to you, but as a springboard to great gifting, determining your spend per gift will provide strong footing through the order process.   

2. Do your research early.

Gift baskets and gourmet holiday food gifts dominate the world of corporate gifting, and with good reason. After you’ve nailed down your spend, start your research and narrow your menu of options to only those that match your needs.

Most corporate gifting companies roll out their holiday specials in August or September, so you can easily get a jump on this process. You may not place an order until December — that’s fine. Researching well before crunch time will ensure you find exactly the right gifts AND net the best possible deal.

3. Choose a trusted supplier.

Millions of business gifting options means millions of merchants vying for your attention. Not all of them are worth your time, nor should you devote precious hours to weeding out bad actors. Instead, choose a supplier you can trust.

Reputable vendors offer personalized service and high-quality, unique gifts. Your recipients will appreciate that your gift comes from a recognizable brand, plus you get the confidence of knowing your gifts will arrive on schedule and in one piece.

Be sure to ask your vendor about returns, damages, and delivery guarantees — their response will let you know whether or not you can rely on them.

4. Ask about personalization.

Select your vendor, choose your product, then make your holiday gifts distinctive to your brand. Talk to a gift expert to about using co-branded packaging & personalization to elevate your gifts well beyond what’s expected.

Most companies offer gift messages, custom branded ribbons, or your logos on the gift or packaging. But remember, personalization takes time, so ask about your options well before you place your order.

 5. Supply a solid gift list.

Sequentially speaking, you’ll probably have a good idea of what your recipient list looks like from the get-go. But plan ahead to double-check your running list before providing it to your gift expert. Speed up the ordering process by supplying accurate names, with an indication of the holiday(s) aligned with your gifts: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, etc.

Removing names from your list is easy, but don’t get caught scrambling to compile your list as the shipping deadline approaches. Consider and compile your list early to avoid headaches, missed delivery dates, and returned shipments.

It’s no secret...giving a memorable holiday gift — a gourmet gift basket, meal kit, or top shelf wine — leads to happy customers, motivated employees, and proud partners. The process of deciding on the right gift, well, that task can be intimidating, to say the least.

Stick with the simple guidelines above to alleviate your stress and leave you plenty of time to enjoy the kudos that follows when you send the perfect holiday gift.

To find out more about how Omaha Steaks can help you with holiday gifting this year, click here.

This post is sponsored by Omaha Steaks. | Content written and provided by Omaha Steaks.

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No matter what side you're on, in the aftermath of this week's election results, you could probably go for a drink (or two) right about now.

No one knows more about political drinking than author Mark Will-Weber, whose book "Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt: The Complete History of Presidential Drinking" explores the stories behind each president's favorite alcoholic beverage.

"Presidents drink for the same reasons we all drink," Will-Weber recently told Business Insider. "Sometimes because it's part of the job, sometimes it's because they're lonely or depressed — there's a whole gamut of reasons of why people drink."

For Will-Weber, knowing what the former presidents like to drink brings a "human side" to those who we "normally hold on a pedestal."

Ahead, take a look at the president's favorite alcoholic beverages, rounded up from Will-Weber's book and The New York Post.

SEE ALSO: 24 of the strangest places Americans have voted on Election Day

Our first president, George Washington, was a whiskey drinker, as were Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, and Andrew Johnson. According to Will-Weber, Johnson was so inebriated when he arrived at the 1865 inauguration as Lincoln's vice president that he had to be pulled off the stage.

John Adams reportedly started every morning with a hard cider. William Henry Harrison was also a big fan.

According to Will-Weber, Thomas Jefferson purchased so much wine it put him on the brink of financial ruin.

There's no magic formula for a successful marriage, but there are steps any couple can take to increase their chances of a long and happy life together. And that starts with getting their finances in order.

But before even a single number is discussed, the most important financial decision couples can make to set themselves up for a successful marriage is to be open and honest about their spending habits and financial pasts.

When it comes to synthesizing money and marriage, it doesn't matter so much what couples do with their cash, but that they make decisions together and respect each other's opinions.

"Be open and be honest," Katie Burke, a CFP at Wealth by Empowerment, told Business Insider. "I think that having a disagreement — agreeing to disagree — is not a bad thing. Be patient and just hear someone out."

Pam Horack, CFP and 'Your Financial Mom' at Pathfinder Planning LLC, concurs. "It's knowing what the other person is spending on or saying, 'Hey, this other person has $200 a month that I don't know what they're spending on, and that's okay.' It's being okay and trusting that other person that they can spend their money on whatever," she told Business Insider.

Openness goes deeper than just keeping your spouse up to date on your latest purchases. It also means coming clean about your mistakes and not judging what your partner chooses to do with their discretionary income.

"If you truly think your partner has a spending problem, then it's time to have an honest and loving conversation with them," Pamela Capalad, CFP and founder of Brunch and Budget, told Business Insider. "If you're just annoyed that they spent money on something that you would never spend money on, then take a step back, take a breath, and give your partner the benefit of the doubt."

Successful couples not only discuss the future with open minds, but they reveal their full financial pasts to their partners — even when it's painful. That means revealing every ugly detail about their salaries, credit card debt, student loans, credit score, and anything else that might impact their financial future.

"There is a lot of embarrassment and shame when it comes to sharing your money situation," Capalad says. "It can represent mistakes you've made in the past, decisions you regret, and take a big toll on your self worth. These are all feeling you should be able to share with your spouse and work through together."

No matter if couples choose to save, invest, or spend their hard-earned cash, clear communication is a crucial component in making money and marriage work.

SEE ALSO: A financial planner reveals the smartest thing to do before buying a house

DON'T MISS: Why you should start saving up to have kids as soon as you get married

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NOW WATCH: BARBARA CORCORAN: When buying a house you should prepare for war

In October, after four months of training and endless hours spent traversing every sidewalk in Brooklyn, New York, I ran an uninterrupted 13.1 miles to finish my first half marathon.

It was hard, but worth the effort.

However, when I first started running four summers ago, I could barely make it two blocks without stopping. I questioned if I'd be able to finish the 5K I'd impulsively signed up for and laughed at the prospect of even attempting a half marathon.

But despite not being a natural runner, I stuck with it, gradually upping my distance and dropping minutes off my mile time. I'm by no means an elite athlete, so if I can do it, anyone can — seriously.

I've had several conversations with friends who say things along the lines of "I could never do that!" or "I can barely run a mile." But thing is, I always say, you can!

Here's the advice I'd give to anyone who wants to start running, even if you've never put on a pair of sneakers before. 

SEE ALSO: 8 ways I trick myself into waking up early to go to the gym

DON'T MISS: 7 things I wish I knew before training for my first half marathon

Commit

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Whether your goal is to run a mile or a marathon, you have to want it and commit yourself to reaching that goal. Running gets easier with practice, but you'll make zero progress if you only attempt it sporadically. Decide mentally that you will become a runner and don't let yourself stop — even if you have to trick yourself into making it happen some days.

Yes, running requires a certain level of physical fitness, but there's a point where it becomes completely mental: If you believe you can do it, you can.

Start small

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Don't hit the pavement on your first day and expect to run six miles. Aim for one mile, half a mile, or even one block if that's all you can do, and go from there. Once you start running regularly, you'll gradually build up mileage, a little bit at a time.

Stick with it

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It's okay if you can only run half a block on your first day. Just don't give up. Conditioning is a key factor in building up mileage; The more you run, the easier it gets.

When I first decided to train for a 5K, I could barely make it a few blocks without stopping to catch my breath, but I kept going. I faithfully got up early four days a week, and after a couple of months I had worked my way up to running three miles without stopping. It took me weeks to make it a mile straight, but had I quit early on, I never would have reached that milestone.

We've given you a glimpse into the fabulous lives of the super rich— and noted some of the outrageous things they can buy with their billions — but perhaps more representative of their extravagant lives are their lavish homes.

Thanks to CNBC's show "Secret Lives of the Super Rich,"and Luxury Listing's new Instagram account, we get a peek into how the super rich live. 

We sorted through CNBC's Instagram account, @cnbcsuperrich and @luxlistingsnyc, and gathered pictures of some of the poshest homes out there.

Dare to dream!

This is an update of a post originally published by Kathleen Elkins.

SEE ALSO: The 15 countries with the most billionaires

Their penthouses look like something from the future.

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There's no need to travel to the real Arc de Triomphe when your patio looks like this.

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If the infinity pool or Jacuzzi get boring, the Atlantic is just a few strides away.

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Frugality is a subjective term. To the average Joe it could mean eating meals at home or scouring the internet for cheap flights.

But to a billionaire it means showing up to work in a T-shirt and jeans, driving a Toyota or Volkswagen, and, in some instances, foregoing the purchase of a private jet or lavish vacation home.

Surprisingly, some of the richest people on earth are incredibly frugal, each one with their own penny-pinching habits.

From eating lunch in the office cafeteria with their employees to residing in homes worth a fraction of what they could afford, these eight self-made billionaires — many of whom are also generous philanthropists— know the secret to keeping their net worth high.

DON'T MISS: After studying rich people for 5 years, I realized there are 10 critical habits the wealthy learn from their parents

SEE ALSO: The 50 richest people on earth

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, still lives in the same home he bought for $31,500 in 1958.

Net worth:$68.1 billion

The "Oracle of Omaha" is one of the wisest and most frugal billionaires around. Despite his status as one of the richest people on earth, he still lives in the same modest home he bought for $31,500 in 1958, doesn't carry a cellphone or have a computer at his desk, and once had a vanity license plate that read "THRIFTY," according to his 2009 biography. And when his friend of 25 years Bill Gates visits Omaha, Buffett picks Gates up from the airport himself.

Buffett also has a decidedly low-brow palate, known not just for investing in junk-food purveyors like Burger King, Dairy Queen, and Coca-Cola, but also for filling up on them as well. The Buffett diet includes five Cokes a day, as well as Cheetos and potato chips.

At his annual shareholder's meeting in 2014, Buffett explained that his quality of life isn't affected by the amount of money he has:

"My life couldn't be happier. In fact, it'd be worse if I had six or eight houses. So, I have everything I need to have, and I don't need any more because it doesn't make a difference after a point."

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, drives a manual-transmission Volkswagen hatchback.

Net worth:$51.5 billion

Despite his status as one of the richest tech moguls on earth, Mark Zuckerberg leads a low-key lifestyle with his wife Priscilla Chan and their newborn daughter. The founder of Facebook has been unabashed about his simple T-shirt, hoodie, and jeans uniform.

"I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community," Zuckerberg said.

The trappings of wealth have never impressed the 32-year-old, who in December 2015 announced he would donate 99% of his Facebook shares during his lifetime.

Zuckerberg chowed down on McDonald's shortly after marrying Chan in 2012 in the backyard of their $7 million Palo Alto home — a modest sum for such an expensive housing market and pocket change for a man worth more than $51 billion. In 2014, he traded in his $30,000 Acura for a manual-transmission Volkswagen hatchback.

Carlos Slim Helú, founder of Grupo Carso, has lived in the same six-bedroom house for more than 40 years.

Net worth:$31.6 billion

Rather than spending his fluctuating fortune, Carlos Slim funnels his billions back into the economy and his vast array of companies. He once mused to Reuters that wealth was like an orchard because "what you have to do is make it grow, reinvest to make it bigger, or diversify into other areas."

The 76-year-old is by far the richest man in Mexico, but he forgoes luxuries like private jets and yachts and reportedly still drives an old Mercedes-Benz. Slim runs his companies frugally, too, writing in staff handbooks that employees should always "maintain austerity in prosperous times (in times when the cow is fat with milk)."

The businessman has lived in the same six-bedroom house in Mexico for more than 40 years and routinely enjoys sharing home-cooked meals with his children and grandchildren. He's got a couple of known indulgences, including fine art — in honor of his late wife — and Cuban cigars, as well as an $80 million mansion in Manhattan, which he was trying to sell last spring.

A Facebook bug caused people's profile pages to display that they have died on Friday.

Multiple Business Insider employees reported seeing the message at the top of their Facebook profiles Friday afternoon, and the bug even affected Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

As of around 4 p.m. ET, people started reporting that the message was gone from their profiles. Facebook later apologized for the "terrible error" in a statement to Business Insider.

“For a brief period today, a message meant for memorialized profiles was mistakenly posted to other accounts," a Facebook spokesperson said. "This was a terrible error that we have now fixed. We are very sorry that this happened and we worked as quickly as possible to fix it.”

Before the bug was fixed, visitors to the Facebook's CEO profile were greeted with a somber notification:

"We hope people who love Mark will find comfort in the things others share to remember and celebrate his life," the message read. The message included a link to Facebook's request form for memorializing the account of someone who has died. People using Facebook's app also reported seeing the message.

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NOW WATCH: A Facebook bug was telling people they died

The Silicon Valley elite has taken to social media to express its thoughts on "Calexit," a fringe political movement that aims to establish California as an independent country.

Most techies seem opposed to a Brexit-style California exit, though one tech tycoon, Shervin Pishevar, has loudly voiced his support.

A secessionist group out of California "hit it big" on Election Day 2016, according to a spokesperson in a statement, when Donald Trump won the race to the White House. The Yes California Independence Campaign aims to hold a referendum in 2018 that, if passed, would bring California one step closer to becoming an independent nation.

The group assembled long before Trump's surprising victory, but is gaining new followers on Facebook and Twitter as California's reliably-blue voters come out in protest of the president-elect. Full disclosure: A state has not seceded from the union since the 1860s, and those 11 southern states rejoined after the American Civil War. A Calexit is still incredibly unlikely, and we have no idea what the impact of California seceding from the union might have.

Still, the movement as a whole won its first major backer on election night when Pishevar, a well-known angel investor and cofounder of Hyperloop One, said on Twitter that he would bankroll a campaign to make California its own nation if Trump won. In an interview with CNBC earlier this week, Pishevar described the effort as "the most patriotic thing I can do."

It looks like Pishevar is now giving Yes California some competition. On November 9th, a new Twitter account called New California cropped up. Its bio lists Pishevar as founder. A tweet clarifies that the group is separate from Yes California.

More Silicon Valley innovators are hopping on the bandwagon, at least on Twitter, in the wake of a Trump presidency.

Marc Hemeon, a former Googler and founder of Design Inc., showed his support in a tweet.

Dave Morin offered his assistance in a tweet to Pishevar, saying, "I was literally just going to tweet this. I'm in and will partner with you on it." He has since deleted the tweet.

Other Silicon Valley tech executives want to distance themselves from Calexit. John Lilly, a general partner at top venture firm Greylock, reminded his followers on Twitter that secessionists make up a tiny portion of the valley. Yes California has fewer than 30,000 subscribers on Facebook.

Brit Morin, CEO of online DIY and e-commerce site Brit + Co, offered a suggestion for who should become president of an independent California.

Here's what else Twitter had to say:

SEE ALSO: Life in California could be surprisingly normal if 'Calexit' happens

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NOW WATCH: People in California are calling for a 'Calexit' after Trump’s victory

Do you ever wonder if there's a difference between sugar and all those artificial sweeteners you put in your coffee? It turns out, there are a number of key distinctions between them.

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Living in a technically advanced world leaves us vulnerable any time we go online. That's especially true when shopping online. Adam Levin, author of "Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers, and Identity Thieves" explains how to stay secure. 

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The Mar-a-Lago Club is President-elect Donald Trump's Florida resort and home base outside Manhattan.

It's the top-ranked spa in Palm Beach on TripAdvisor and gets four full stars on Yelp. But what's it really like to stay there?

James Taylor, the famous singer-songwriter, spent a week there with his wife and children to perform at a charity gala on the property. His wife, Caroline, penned an account of their stay at the Mar-a-Lago for Vanity Fair.

Calling herself and her husband "dyed-in-the-wool, yellow dog Democrats," Caroline Taylor still attempts to offer an unbiased review of the hotel.

See what it's like to stay at the ultimate in lavish Trump real estate below.

Raisa Bruner wrote an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump's empire is under siege as his glamorous image fades

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Mar-a-Lago is a beach and pool club and spa, with rooms, suites, and cottages spread over 20 acres. The club has been the site of everything from Trump's most recent wedding to Maya Angelou's 80th birthday party, hosted by Oprah Winfrey.

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Source: Mar-a-Lago Club

It's one of the most "exotic, larger-than-life" hotels Taylor says she's ever visited. The 118-room resort was built in the 1920s by Marjorie Merriweather Post, America's richest woman, until she bequeathed it to the US government and it fell into disrepair.

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Source: The New York Times

Trump scooped it up in 1985 for less than $10 million, renovated it, and ultimately turned it into the society destination it is today. Taylor describes the clientele as "lacquered blondes" wearing "five-inch Louboutins."

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Sources: The New York Times, Vanity Fair