Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we must ask him what books he has read."

With that in mind, we asked CEO, Heather Ulz and President, Ben Nevejans what books they have read recently that they would recommend as a gift or the perfect holiday travel read. Here are their recommendations:

Guaranteed Income by Barry James Dyke

Barry Dyke exposes the universal myths surrounding qualified funds tied to market-linked investments, i.e. mutual funds, and how those myths are fueling the collapse of the "American pension".

What's great about Barry, also the author of Pirates of Manhattan, is the way he systematically proves his hypothesis with facts, statistics and charts then provides enlightenment and solutions that the reader can begin implementing immediately. He gives clear cut examples of how his proposed solutions are being implemented quite successfully by wealthy institutions and individuals.

For a financial advisor looking to support alternative retirement strategies, specifically annuity and permanent life insurance, there is probably a no better book to read and share with clients and prospects. Make sure to check out the forward delivered by former head of the US budget and Comptroller General, David Walker.

No Excuses by Brian Tracy

As one who pays a lot of attention to successful entrepreneurs and sales people alike, Brian Tracy is a beacon in the haze of mediocrity.

If you're looking for a "How To" manual of success and excellence there isn't another book that is more relevant or easy to follow and implement in a way that smacks of common sense.

Whether you're an entrepreneur or employee, I would highly recommend Brian's No Excuses for both personal and professional development. Then come get it signed by Brian himself at the 2016 LifePro Summit!

The Science of Success by Charles Koch

"The World's Largest Private Company's" CEO, Charles Koch, explains in detail Koch Industry's management and cultural philosophy, Market Based Management.

Mr. Koch systematically breaks down MBM into five basic dimensions: Vision, Virtue, Knowledge Process, Decision Rights and Incentives to explain the lasting success of brands such as LYCRA, Quilted Northern tissue and Dixie cups.

Koch details his incorporation of economics, science, philosophy, psychology, politics and history to create this template for duplicable success. In my opinion, this is a must read for business owners and those serving the business owner community.

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell

Our industry is built on trust. The best way for others to find you trustworthy is to truly be able to personally connect with them. It is of utmost importance that our clients know that I/we genuinely care about them and want to help them succeed in any way we can.

In order to do that we must be able to connect positively on four levels - visually, intellectually, emotionally, and verbally. The positive connection is the groundwork for building and maintaining credibility. By remembering that we are the message that we portray in our everyday lives will lead us to a brighter future for ourselves and our clients.

While this book is a business book, for many of us our business crosses over heavily into our personal lives. Maxwell's message from this book is equally important in all areas of our lives.

The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business by Patrick Lencioni

Organizational health and a cohesive leadership team matter more than a lot of organizations may think. High functioning, healthy companies continue improving over time, making them more effective for each other and those that they serve.

Communication is key in building and maintaining a healthy organization it builds trust with all, provides clarity for the team in understanding why they exist as a company and what their core purpose is. Since we spend so much working time in, on, and at our business, building and maintaining a great atmosphere to work in is extremely important.

From all of us at LifePro, we wish you happiness and prosperity during the holidays and throughout the New Year!