WT February 15, 2012 - Financial security & retirement plan main concern with Dubs

Many JWs seem to have gotten the message that the 'old world' will be with them for a while yet. They are gearing up to prepare for a financially secure future, missing out on boring and repetitive meetings.

Is there an attached document, can not see it?

Ah yes, but it's perfectly ok for the society to spend tons of time and (your) money playing the stock market and investing it.

BATS IN THE BELFRY:

The remaining JWs are now beginning to realize what I knew and planned for well over 25 years ago.  I remember a few stupid remarks when I mentioned in conversation that I thought retirement plans were important.  At one point years ago, a JW did my taxes and scoffed at my putting money in an IRA.

While I realize anything can happen with the world, I don't want to feel regret and self-hatred for NOT doing it. The bible does say that "money is a protection" and even the lowly ant stores up, so why not us?   I can only imagine the anger and worry that JWs who didn't plan must feel!  I am not gloating and certainly should have done more.  

This religion had most of the members in a sleep mode and now we have all had a very RUDE awakening!

That was from the district convention this passed summer if I remember

Does the WTS own stock in a dog food company?  They seem to want to condemn the elderly to a marginal lifestyle, that's for sure. 

That's rich.

It's the classic "squeeze play". Screw the rank & file from both ends. "Strongly encourage" them not to go to college on the front end, and "strongly encourage" them not to save for retirement on the back end.

Actually, come to think of it, those who "work overtime on meeting nights" most likely due so out of immediate financial need, never mind about "retirement planning".

That's what happens when you leave high school and pioneer right away, working part time jobs and gaining no practical skill. You end up having to work 60 or 70 hours a week, 2 or 3 jobs, just to meet your basic needs. 40 hours a week as a Wal-Mart clerk doesn't get you very far.

Of course, if JWs were allowed to go to college without feeling like pariahs, they could earn a decent living and not have to "work overtime on meeting nights".

. . .  btw, it is the WT February 15, 2013 issue.

All the meetings the WTBTS registers with to shore up monies lately, is it any wonder the flock does starts consolidating their means of living?

The older generation (I use the word in the dictionary sense!) has given up on "living forever". Their hope now is a ressurrection. That is what I hear all around

A public speaker made a point of this a while back. He quoted a friend who had told him " I used to see myself as marching straight into the New World - but now I realize that I will get there via "the underground" "

The sad thing was that everybody laughed.. they think it funny that their expectations have been dashed. I cannot understand that .

Then, by WT definition, they won't be part of the 'great crowd' any longer.

A public speaker made a point of this a while back. He quoted a friend who had told him " I used to see myself as marching straight into the New World - but now I realize that I will get there via "the underground" "

The sad thing was that everybody laughed.. they think it funny that their expectations have been dashed. I cannot understand that .

This is absolutely true - it is the result of about a hundred years of false "the end is tomorrow" prophecy.

I doubt that more than 20% of them really, truly, believe that they will live to see Armageddon any more - they are just going through the motions and fully expect to grow old and die like everybody else does.

so now that they are aware of arriving, "underground", where the hell is the financial planning. It's like cattle to the slaughter

An elderly brother that we knew lamented that he wasn't so concerned about surviving Armageddon as he was about surviving until Armageddon.

@ron.  Hey man do you have any proof of the Society using congregation donations to play the stock market?  It just sounds a little out in left field.

@problemaddict

click here and look for Watch Tower Society under the list of investors.

http://www.hedgefundintelligence.com/Product/13793/Forthcoming-Events/InvestHedge-Forum-2011.html?ElementId=9679

Splash.

This is another way to prevent you from enjoying your material things.  Is attending a boasting session going to contribute to your well-being later?  Or, would it be better to work during it, skip it (you probably heard the same rubbish a billion times before), and spend or invest the money on things that will later help you?  For example:  You skip the evening boasting session.  You take home enough money to buy 2 ounces of silver from doing it, and you get that silver.  Do that 52 times a year, you get 104 ounces of silver.  In the course of 20 years, that adds up to 4 monster boxes worth.  Which can be significant if hyperinflation erodes your savings and the job market turns against you.

Or, you skip 2 boasting sessions to work.  With the money, you are able to buy a high-power lantern, 6 NiMH D batteries, and a battery charger that charges NiMH D batteries.  A month later, you skip another boasting session, with which you buy a Fenix carry light and a pack of NiMH AA batteries.  Then, the lights go out.  Your lantern and flashlight work, your batteries charged, and you are able to get through the storm without much more than having some real fun.  In the meantime, Brother Hounder who took this article to heart was stumbling, and fell down the stairs in the dark and landed on one of his children because no one could see anything.  They land in the hospital, and have to skip 2 months' worth of boasting sessions and work.  Now, who is better off?