That is a good question. I was on my way to exiting the Organization, but didn't realize it, when my mother got cancer. I had been in this WTBTS almost 40 years at the time. My mother came in as a disillusioned Catholic dragging her young children with her. So to her this was the "Truth". She lived it many, many years and gave her all to it. I always had doubts, just didn't realize it growing up and in my adulthood that those doubts weren't weaknesses, as the Elders told me. I stayed, always under pressure somehow to do so. My brother was DF and I was the only child in. My Dad never came in. I lived a miserable life as a JW. Things were never right for me. But I dragged on. How I wish someone had come to me years earlier and told me the facts. I thought my doubts were my own fault and I was the one lacking. That is the way the Society keeps people in, by making it the individual's fault, not theirs.
But, by the time my Mom was ill with cancer, I was so inactive that I didn't get to meetings on a regular basis and I didn't go out in service at all. But I hung on because of my Mom. I didn't share negative things with her. She needed her faith at the end and what would have been the point to distract her from it then? Even if I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have done that to her. In my eyes, that would have been cruel. She would probably kept her faith and died knowing that I would probably not be in that "New System" of hers when she arrived. What good would that have done?
But as far as someone younger, there is hope. At 52, young man, I have just started college. I was on the dean's list last semester and plan to go on and graduate. The government is planning on moving retirement age into the 70's before I get to the age they subscribe now. So I figure that I have lots of time to get a degree and work a few years and set myself up. I also am setting an example for my daughters who are 19 and 22 and my son who is 33 and my granddaughter who is 9. It is never to late to better yourself.
As far as retirement, your parents can go on thinking that the new system will rescue them from it, or they can go on and hit the reality that they have nothing when they arrive at old age, still here in this "Old System" with no way to live decently. Is it better to know that they have to make some big changes in their 50's, or is it better for them to see it when they are in their late 70's and 80's and realize that they should have planned for their old age? The Society will not be handing out monies to them because they predicted that the end will come "soon" and that they should "wait on Jehovah" and depend on "Him" to take care of their needs. Jehovah isn't handing things out to the old ones who now need it and thought the end was "nigh" years and years ago, are they. No, they claim it is these old ones own fault for "placing a date on the end" and not preparing for their old age. The Society claims no responsibility for these old ones who gave up everything for them.
If you think that your parents might listen, test them out here and there and see. They are really young enough to face the facts and young enough to make some changes yet to make their future a better one, emotionally and financially.
If you don't get them to see the facts, then you had better get yourself a degree and get into a financial position where you will be able to help to take care of them. You are very young and able to get into that position and if you love them and don't want them in poverty you might want to consider this advice.
You are young and you don't have life’s experience yet. Your parents, even as JWs have learned a lot, don't discount that. Exiting the Watchtower would not necessarily be as big a hardship emotionally on them as you might think. It just depends. I had a hard time, but not as hard as some. It all depends on the support you get and how strong you are emotionally. I learned so much on-line. These boards meant a whole lot to me. Anytime I felt that I might go back to the Hall, I recalled all the things I learned. It takes time and it will take time for your parents too, if they choose to leave. But they will have your support and you would have theirs. Finding out the facts about the Society is a paradigm shift for most who have given it their all. But the mind is a great thing and can handle it.
Remember too, that telling any JW anything bad about the Society is a red flag for them to think you might be "apostate". You don't say if you are still in or baptized. You didn't say how strong a JW your parents are, how ingrained they might be. You are risking your standing in the congregation if you are still in, and could be DF if you insist on talking about your thought that are contrary to the Societies teachings.
You also need to do more research, your comment on not knowing that all that the JW's believe is false and whether reform would be good or not. You need to learn more so that you can answer these things in your own heart. It takes time and research but the facts are there for the taking.
But you are thinking and that is good. I came on my first board in defense of the JW's, and I can't be more grateful for the patience of the ones who taught me over the years. So keep moving forward. Keep asking questions and follow the brain and heart that was given you and live a good life with no serious doubts in your soul. It can happen.
Lindy