Thanks for all the comments.
sir82,
Geeze don't give'em ideas!
Don't worry. I only mentioned it because I'm sure they're already onto it.
Actually, they've probably got a full-time "investment department", or at least a paid consultant, who directs them in how best to shield their assets.
They do have a full-time investment department: it's part of the Treasury Department. They also use outside consultants.
No matter what else we may think about WT, they're superb at funds management. Lots of experience.
ramon,
There was another thread saying the Spanish speaking elders got a letter from Brooklyn saying from now on the congregations are to send money donations straight to an account for Watchtower, but where that account is or if it feeds back to still another account that is in the Cayman's or elsewhere nobody knows outside of Watchtower's investments people and their attorneys.
Thanks.
This also leads to a further interesting question: some time ago, the Brooklyn Treasury Department were trying to persuade various branches around the world to send them their surplus funds, as they felt that they could achieve higher returns if all the money was consolidated.
However there was a problem, because the various branch committees were jealously hoarding "their" funds and were reluctant to pass back any substantial amounts! The Treasury boys asked the Publishing Committee to write to those branches and instruct them to remit the funds. The Publishing Committee first wrote the branches to ask for their comments, but the branch committees wrote back such negative comments (including alleged potential tax complications) that the idea was quietly shelved.
I heard all this second-hand. Can anyone else confirm it, or know whether Treasury eventually 'got their way'?
badboy,
You obviously perform a valuable public service. <lol>
sf,
Very interesting, thanks.
Bring_the_Light,
Good pont, though Swiss accounts are less attractive these days than they once were. They pay low interest, often have medium to high charges, and even before 9/11 were subject to international anti-money-laundering agreements ...