I also trade futures due to the leverage, quick feed back, and near constant liquidity. I trade intraday, swing & position and since I started with the futures I totaly gave up stocks. Mr doctor said my stress level has all but disappeared. It could have been the sexy brunette or the new pool I guess too.
Because of the fact that stock commissions are very low...and that you can easily obtain 10:1 leverage....There are several inviting stocks that to me are more comfortable to trade than futures...... I have traded OEX..SPX options credit spreads in size...and have traded S&P 500 futures... Because of the leverage...low commissions...excellent direct access technology...I feel that my profitability is more reliable with stocks...I feel more conservative for some reason...
I response to the original post, if i was in your position I would start slowly diversifying away from futures. You have enough money that you need to have some good sources of yield on your excess trading capital. I would look at selling cash covered puts on MO (Altria or whatever Philip Morris is called now). MO puts have the dividend built into the price so the premiums are a little bit dear. So either you have a stock with a 6% yield or the put expires worthless. Nothing spectacular but a low risk way to get yield.
No, taxes are way lower on futures profits, regardless of time frame. EDIT: Not sure if the tax advantage really applies to people in low tax brackets.