paid to him in the form of salary, instead of stocks and other financial instruments, because he specifically wanted to pay the higher income tax, instead of the lower capital gains tax.

That makes no sense. The "stocks and other financial instruments" would be treated the same as regular income when he is granted them. Short term capital gains is literally the same as ordinary income. Equity grants are not a way to avoid paying taxes. When my company grants me stock, it's treated the same as handing me cash when I get it. I either have to pony up the cash then and there, or sell a portion of the grant to pay tax. If that equity then appreciates, and I sell it more than a year later, I pay the slightly lower long term capital gains rate on the appreciation only. There is no (legal) way to just receive value and not pay income tax on it.