Those short term trade taxes are expensive. IT is said he has some kind of corporation he gets paid a dividend. So can I just create some kind of corporation, buy "Shares" in it and they just pay myself a dividend taxed at 15% from my options/trading money?
I started a corporation back in 1984 and based upon my accountants advice, I paid myself and my wife in dividends. But when I later moved in 1987, I got a new accountant and he told me it was illegal to do that. Well the second guy was a graduate of the Wharton School, so I took his advice and paid myself a salary. Good luck.
Found this interesting 4 page article. He definately was the Classic Gordon Gekko. ie: borrowing against the company using the Pensions pools of the companies he bought, then using that borrowed money to pay himself a special dividend. Finally liquidation. I do remember the 1980s was a period of Mass liquidation of companies. The way he did the 401K trick was interesting, as explained. http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/08/investigating-mitt-romney-offshore-accounts