Indo Tambang 1Q Profit Increases 41.77% On Higher Sales

JAKARTA: Coal miner PT Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk (ITMG), that is controlled by Thai Banpu Plc, experienced a 41.77% increase in net profit for the first quarter of this year on the back of higher net sales.

Indo Tambang posted US$95.23 million net profit or US$0.08 per share in 1Q 2011 from US$67.17 million or US$0.06 per share in 1Q 2010.

Operating profit increased 25.82% to US$117.43 million from US$93,33 million, reflecting a higher margin to 25.07% from 23.17%.

Indo Tambang booked a 16.24% increase in net sales to US$468.33 million from US$402.89 billion.

Enel Trade SpA made a US$48.67 million of coal purchase from Indo Tambang, counting 10.4% of consolidated total sales.

Banpu Minerals (Singapore) Pte Ltd controls 65% shareholding in Indo Tambang, President Director Hartono Widjaja owns 0.01% stake, and public shareholders own 34.99%. (wiw)

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5 Easy Steps to Becoming a Millionaire

Who wouldn't want to be worth a million dollars? Many of us dream of achieving this goal, more often than not for the sake of the freedom financial stability would bring. So how can we get there? The answers are actually much easier than you might expect. Here are several easy steps to get you into the millionaires' club. (With a little discipline and the help of some powerful savings vehicles, anyone can hit this mark.)



1. Only Marry Once
According to "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D and William D. Danko, Ph.D, the average millionaire is married with three children. The wives of these millionaires are good budgeters and most often described as even more frugal than their husbands. Interestingly, according to Stanley and Danko's survey, half of these wives do no work outside the home and of those who do, they are most likely teachers.

One upside of only marrying once is avoiding the costs of divorce and of subsequent weddings. The cost of a divorce depends on many factors including income, attorney fees, court fees, and the assets a couple has and how they are divided. The average wedding cost in the United States in 2010, according to The Wedding Report.com, was $24,070.

2. Live off One Income
One of the advantages of having a life partner is the potential to pull in two incomes. If you are able, consider structuring your set expenses based on only one income, and save what comes in from the other income. Doing so strengthens your financial position in two ways: In case of an emergency or if one partner loses their job, you will not only have less set expenses to cover, but you will also have built up your net worth as a safety measure.

3. Choose the Right Career
According to The Millionaire Next Door, "self-employed people make up less than 20% of the workers in America but account for two-thirds of the millionaires." The book goes on to list an average of 45 to 55 hours spent working per week, so by no means is this the self-employed fantasy of playing golf while your business grows.

The idea of the "right" career can encompass a myriad of factors. Ideally, this would be a career you enjoy, otherwise you likely won't be putting in the dedication required to be successful. The right career would also coincide with overall working trends, or at least not work directly against them. For example, starting a career in typewriter manufacturing may be something you are passionate about, but it would likely suffer due to the current technological trends.

4. Put Your Money in Appreciating Assets
According to Stanley and Danko, the millionaires in their survey invested nearly 20% of their realized household income each year. Nearly 20% of the household's wealth is held in "transaction securities such as publicly traded stocks and mutual funds" and the millionaires tended to rarely sell their equities. Only a very small number of the millionaires surveyed had ever leased a car; few even drove the current year model. Half of those surveyed had lived in their homes for more than 20 years, which, as the authors point out, means they have likely enjoyed "significant increases in the value of their homes."

The end result? These people put a financial priority on assets that will make them money, from their homes to their businesses.

5. Don't Live the Millionaire Lifestyle
Warren Buffett's frugal lifestyle (especially relative to his net worth) is the go-to example for this point. The average value of the surveyed millionaires' homes was $320,000. The bottom line is, those who spend their money on non-appreciating assets cannot put that same money in an asset that will net them a return and increase their wealth. If it is important to you to build your financial worth, stop spending it on new cars, toys and clothes. (The Oracle of Omaha has a net worth in the billions, but his lifestyle is not as rich as you may think.)

The Bottom Line
Becoming a millionaire is easier than ever. While this is a dream that will take work and discipline to achieve, it isn't as far out of reach as you might think. Be smart with your money and before you know it, you'll be able to count yourself among the world's wealthier citizens.

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-112626-9481-5-5-easy-steps-to-becoming-a-millionaire

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Health Insurance Tips

Everyone has different medical insurance needs, so no one answer, insurance provider or insurance plan is going to work for every patient or family. So here are 8 health insurance tips.

1. Group Insurance Plan
If you have the option, sign up for your employer's group health insurance plan. Company insurance is going to be the cheapest insurance plan you can buy, because you get the group rate. If you are a self-employed contractor or you're a small business owner, this option won't be open to you. You'll have to find other ways to get good health insurance.

2. Get COBRA Coverage
Those who have recently left a job which provided you with health insurance under a group plan might qualify for continuing health insurance coverage. If you retired, were laid off or fired by your employer, it's possible you and your family can qualify for continuing coverage for up to 18 months under provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 (generally known as C.O.B.R.A.). You're former employer won't pay their part of the insurance premium, but you're still likely to pay less and have better insurance coverage than if you signed up for a single-payer insurance plan. Check out our Cobra health insurance page to learn more.

3. Get a Health Insurance Broker
A health insurance broker compare health insurance plans available to you and gives recommendations for the plan you should choose. For instance, the National Association of Health Underwriters look at the plans and costs and help you choose the right health insurance coverage.

4. Look at Fee-For-Service Plans 
"Fee-For-Service" is a term where a person controls which doctor they see and whether they need to see a specialist. At the same time, the insurance premiums are bigger and your out-of-pocket expenses are typically higher under the fee for service health insurance plans. Just imagine this is greater freedom, but a bigger price.

5. Managed Health Care
"Managed health care" describes one of three different types of health insurance plans where you trade flexibility for better prices. The health insurance provider has certain preferred doctors they make bargains with, so you get cheaper health care by agreeing to go to these particular doctors. Some patients chafe under these stipulations.

6. HMO Managed Health Care
Probably the most famous (or infamous) managed health care plans. HMOs restrict the insured the most of all plans, but is the least expensive health care option. HMO plans generally require a patient to see their primary physician before seeing a specialist, so this can become a point of conflict. The HMO also has the smallest number of choices regarding doctors. On the positive side, HMO users pay the smallest premiums and often have no copayments.

7. PPO Managed Health Care
Preferred Provider Organizations, also known as PPOs, are at the other end of the spectrum from HMO organizations. For instance, a patient does not need prior permission to see a specialist. Also, the PPO patient can go outside the PPO network to see a doctor, though the copayment will be significantly higher. If you stay within the PPO list of doctors, you'll pay lower co-pays. All in all, the PPO co-pays and premiums are more expensive than the HMO costs.

8. POS Managed Health Care
Point-Of-Service or POS managed health care organizations which split the difference between the HMO and PPO. The PPO lets you see a doctor outside of the Point-of-service network like a PPO network, while you have to have your primary care doctor refer you to a specialist before you can get specialist treatment.

Choosing a Health Insurance Provider

When you start to search for choosing a health insurance provider, you need to figure out what exactly you are looking for in your health insurance. Do you want flexibility? Are you searching for the lowest costs in your health insurance plan? Is there some middle ground in which a PPO network or POS network might be the best option?

Research all the options and see how restrictive they are. Also, compare the costs of each and figure out which costs sound like the health insurance costs you can afford and contrast those of the costs in the case of a catastrophic health care situation and the freedom to choose you own doctor or specialist.

Finally, no matter which health insurance provider you choose, make sure to choose one. Any of the options mentioned above is absolutely a better choice than deciding to have no health insurance coverage. You're placing a major bet that you aren't going to have a sudden medical condition or a major accident, and that's a wager that you will eventually lose. So get health insurance coverage somewhere.

http://www.askdeb.com/health/insurance/where/

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Tips on How to Choose a Business Partner

Approach finding a business partner as you would a combination spouse/day care provider. A partnership is a long-term covenant between two (or more) people. You will spend a lot of time planning major business events with your partner and need to be able to get along with him/her.
Your business is something you gave birth to and will have to nurture to help it grow. You want a partner that will approach your business with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment that you have, but who also shares the same business "parenting" philosophies.



1. Find a Partner That Shares Your Values, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Vision
Of all the things to look for in a partner this is probably the most important. You will need to be able to communicate effectively with your partner to make decisions, set goals, and drive the business forward. If you partner with someone that is reluctant, combative, or unable to consider your viewpoint it will be harder to be successful.

2. Find a Partner That Can Bring Skills and Experience to The Business
A good business partner should have skills that support and compliment your own. No single person is a master of all things business. If you have great interpersonal skills but poor business finance skills, consider a partner who understands business accounting. The more skills you and your partner bring to the business together the easier it will be to start, plan, grow, and run your business.

3. Look For a Partner Without A Lot of Personal Baggage
If your partner has serious challenges in his/her personal life it may carry over into the business. It is nice to be willing to give someone a chance, but running a small business takes focus, time, and tremendous energy. If your partner is dealing with one personal crisis after another you may find yourself carrying the weight of the business.

4. Find a Partner That Can Offer Resources and Credibility to Your Business
It is great to have a business partner that has financial resources, but there are other contributions a partner can bring to the business that can be just as valuable. A partner with a strong business network, industry connections, client list, or certain credentials and expertise can also increase the value of your business and improve your chances for achieving long-term success.

5. Choose a Partner That Practices Good Personal and Business Ethics
Only enter into partnerships with someone you can trust. Look for someone who values honesty and practices good personal and business ethics. A poorly chosen business partner may end up stealing from the company, taking your ideas or clients to start their own business, or breaking laws that could get your business into legal trouble.

6. Choose a Partner That is Financially Stable
Whether or not your partner contributes financially to the business is less important than if your potential partner is in dire financial straits. Someone in the middle of a financial crisis may not be the best choice to go into business with for a variety of reasons. Money, asset, and time management skills are critical for small business entrepreneurs and someone who has grossly mismanaged their personal or business finances may not have the skills or discipline to make a business partnership work. Worst case scenario, they may even look for ways to steal from your business to solve personal financial problems.

7. Respect: A Necessary Element to Forming a Successful Partnership
You should never partner with someone that you do not respect. The main purpose in forming a partnership is to achieve success as a team. You may not value the opinion and efforts of someone you do not respect at least on a professional level. You also want to partner with someone that will show you respect as a partner, business professional, and as the founder of your business.

http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/startingasmallbusiness/tp/7-tips-find-a-business-partner.htm

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3 Tips to Work Online

Author: TJ Philpott

Learning how to work online successfully will involve both strategic thinking and a firm commitment on your part. Marketing an online business calls for the willingness to invest the effort along with the  ability to maintain your focus. Having a strong desire to reach your goals is all you really need along with an awareness that the internet will present many distractions that will challenge your focus.

Here are 3 tips that will help keep you on the right track to successfully marketing an online business leaving it simply up to you to stay the course!



Expect to Invest an Effort

There are no free rides or overnight riches. These are only phrases originating from sales copy used to sell products and are not reality based! The  advantages of marketing an online business are in the cost of set up and operations but this does NOT rule out competition or overcoming buyer resistance. Both will take time and effort! Having the willingness to work hard will make you a very worthy competitor and this persistence will also pay off in gaining customer loyalty as well!

Work Smarter

We spoke of the effort you need to invest but you want this effort to be focused to make it more effective. Do not expect that simply because you invest the time that you will profit! Effort will be needed and that is for sure but it needs to be directed by logical and strategic thinking on your part for the best results! Promotional genius is not necessarily required but a practical approach that best fits your market and the atmosphere within which you work will make you much more productive.

Manage Information

Having access to and being constantly bombarded by the amount of information the internet offers will test your focus DAILY! Working online can easily overwhelm you if you try to 'absorb' or investigate every piece of information that comes your way, or finds its way to you! You must learn to manage or sometimes even ignore much of this information because guess what, you have a business to run!

Discovering how to work online effectively involves your realization that effort and your focus will be required. Your acceptance of this is critical so that you can avoid the pitfalls that sabotage many when marketing an online business. As our discussion above indicates, by having a goal and applying a little strategic thinking, the only other things needed for your success otherwise is your focus and commitment! Remember, you must be willing to maintain both!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-business-articles/how-to-work-online-3-tips-4727870.html
About the Author

TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina. For more tips about how to work online successfully and to also receive a free instructional manual that teaches valuable niche research techniques for your marketing needs simply visit:http://affiliatequickstart.com/

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The Key To Finding The Right Career Direction

Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end and a direction. For many people, the present direction of the career is probably not a result of entirely their own choices. If, for some reason, you are not happy with the direction of your career, there is a way out: Take charge of your career and change its direction.


1. Know yourself

Has it happened with you that after desperately looking for something (e.g., keys) all over the place, you eventually found it right in your pocket or drawer?

That's exactly the case with finding a new career direction. Usually, we try to search for a new career direction by looking all around, for example, at hot jobs, emerging fields, prestigious companies, friend's career, what's safe and so on. Ironically, we fail to look for the answer where it actually lies: inside us.
The secret of finding the right career direction is not to look outside but to look inside. Know yourself and you will automatically know the right direction for your career.

2. Dig deeper

Most people define themselves is terms of what they write in their resumes. That's just the tip of the iceberg. To really know yourself, dig deeper and uncover your:

(a) Strengths
(b) Personality
(c) Values
(d) Interests

(a) Strengths

Your strength is what you do well and enjoy doing it. We never fail to admire strengths in top athletes, painters, writers, leaders but fail to ask "What is my strength?"

Strengths have a solid connection with a person's career. According to Peter Drucker, a person can only perform from his strength. In other words, mediocrity is guaranteed if we fail to use our strengths. So know your strengths and get into a career that allows you to leverage your strengths to the maximum.

Discover your strengths by asking:

What am I good at and also enjoy doing?
What makes me feel energized?
What comes naturally and easily to me?
(b) Personality

Personality is the sum total of a person's behavioral, temperamental and emotional traits. For example, some people are by nature extrovert and enjoy meeting other people. But some people are born introvert and feel more comfortable when left alone.

Studies show a direct link between a person's personality and his career. Indeed, if you are an extrovert person, you would do well in roles such as sales, marketing, public relations. But an introvert person would be better off in roles that do not require public dealing.

To know your personality in detail and its implications on your career, appear at personality tests such as Myers Briggs Test Instrument (MBTI).

(c) Values

Values are what you consider important and valuable. Values differ from person to person and can range from things like money, prestige and power to more subtle things like respect, harmony and independence.

Your values hint towards the kind of work that will suit you. For example, if you value "achievement, "you would do well in roles that regularly throw challenges at you. Someone else, however, may value "helping others" and, therefore, would do well in occupations that provide an opportunity to serve others.

To know your values, ask yourself what is important to you, make a list and prioritize the items. You can also use value inventories on the Internet to identify your values.

(d) Interests

Should the work be interesting? Yes, for an important reason: If your work arouses your interest, you are going to do well. History shows that great achievers always pursued what fascinated them. Akio Morita shunned the option of joining the family business of sake brewing to pursue what he was interested in: an electronics start-up. And he created Sony.

Doing the work that interests you can have a lasting impact on your career. To uncover your interests, find out what fascinates you and draws your attention.

Knowing your strengths, personality, values and interests is like having a compass with its needle pointing towards the right direction for your career.

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Tips on Selecting An Insurance Company

When shopping for auto insurance, do a little homework first, shop around, and select your insurer carefully. Your insurer should offer both fair prices and excellent service. These tips will help you find the right insurer for you:


Know your state's auto insurance requirements:

Most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. Many states have "no-fault" auto insurance systems. Coverage for medical costs for you and your passengers is optional in some states. Coverage for damage to your car is optional.

Write up your personal auto insurance profile:

List pertinent information concerning what type of vehicle you drive, where you drive, who else drives, what your driving record is, where you live, what optional safety features your car has. This profile will make the next step easier.

Comparison Shop:

Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars, so it pays to shop around. Ask your friends, check the Yellow Pages, and call your state insurance department for guidance. Contact insurance agents or companies for general pricing information. Select a few insurers for personalized quotes.

Meet with potential insurance agents:

Make a few appointments, bring your personal auto insurance profile with you, and ask questions. You want a fair price AND quality service. Ask about available discounts, higher deductibles, service options and claims procedures after accidents. Take notes.

Compare Again:

Consider cost, coverage offered, and quality of service available. Select your insurer.

Read your policy:

Yes, even the fine print! Ask questions. Keep your policy at hand. Call your insurer to keep your policy up-to-date, inform your agent of any changes (new car, new job, new driver, etc.), and ask periodically about any possible discounts. Review your policy yearly with your insurer.

Keep your insurance information with you:

Many states require drivers to carry a proof-of-insurance card with them when driving. Ask your insurer for a card, and keep it in your wallet or in your car.

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Tips for choosing a Bank

Tips for choosing a Bank that's Right for you:

Shop around -- Shop around for a bank that offers the services that you want and whose fees are competitive. Choose a bank that is FDIC insured. This means that your bank account is insured up to $100,000.



Bank Fees - Look very closely at the fees associated with bank accounts. You will find the fees in the fine print. This is where banks make a lot of money these days. Fees you should look out for: ATM Fees, balance inquiries, flat monthly fees, per-check fees, overdraft protection fees, fees for going below the minimum balance, bounced check fees, fees for using ATM's that aren't associated with you bank, placing stop payments on checks, providing canceled checks with monthly statements and closing your account fees.

Retail Locations - If you are going to do most of your banking face-to-face with a teller, make sure that your bank has retail locations that are convenient.

Online Banking - If you are an avid user of the Internet, you may want to check if your bank offers an online banking center to pay bills online, check balances, transfer funds, and link to other financial institutions such as brokerage houses.

Account Details - Most banks offer several types of checking accounts and several types of savings accounts. Choose the bank that offers accounts that fill your needs. If you write a lot of checks, find a bank that offers a low or no fees to write checks. If you are a saver, find a bank with a high yielding savings account.

Types of Bank Accounts you will encounter when Choosing a Bank:

Checking Accounts- This account allows you to write checks against the balance you hold in your account. It also allows access to your money through an automatic teller machine(ATM) and is often attached to a debit card. It is used for everyday expenses and not generally used for savings. Most banks offer a number of checking account options. When deciding on a checking account, it is most important to understand the fees associated with the account. You should choose the account that works best for your financial needs and try to minimize fees.

Some common fees associated with checking accounts:

•  Monthly maintenance
•  Balances below the required minimum
•  Bounced checks
•  Stop payments
•  ATM or teller use
•  Debit card use
•  Photocopies of checks or share drafts
•  Cancelled check receipt

Savings Accounts -Savings accounts are generally used for short-term savings needs. Interest rates vary and are generally less than other savings vehicles available. Be sure to make sure that the savings account that you choose is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC).

Money Market Accounts - Money market accounts earn a higher rate of return than most savings accounts. There is generally a minimum balance that generally ranges from $500 to $2,500. There are sometimes withdrawal restrictions associated with these accounts.

Certificates of Deposit (CD) -CDs generally offer higher interest rates than general checking, savings, and money market accounts. However, they have higher minimums and often have strict withdrawal restrictions.

Debit Cards - Debit cards are tied to your checking account. They act as an electronic version of a paper check and are accepted at an increasing number of locations every day.

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