THE TOM DUPREE SHOW  |  PODCAST SHOW NOTES

Doing Your Own Research: How the Dupree Team Picks Stocks, Thinks About AI, and Stays Grounded

The Tom Dupree Show  |  Dupree Financial Group  |  dupreefinancial.com  |  859-233-0400

Episode Description

On this special all-Dupree episode, Tom Dupree sits down with his two sons — James, who researches and selects stocks from the Lexington office, and Clark, who develops new client relationships from Phoenix while competing in martial arts on the side. What starts as a conversation about photonics and portfolio construction quickly becomes something richer: a candid look at what it means to pursue any discipline with real intention, whether that’s investment research, building a business, or showing up to get beaten up on the mat until you get better.

James walks through how he identifies opportunities in emerging technology sub-sectors, why in-house research gives Dupree Financial a genuine edge over advisors who outsource investment decisions, and how the firm balances speculative positions with steady dividend-paying holdings. Clark reflects on the grind of cold outreach, the value of surrounding yourself with people who want more for themselves, and what martial arts has taught him about persistence and adversity. Tom ties it all together with the philosophy that has guided the firm for over two decades: do the work, trust the process, and take care of the clients in front of you.

April 25, 2026  |  The Tom Dupree Show

“You have to know what your secret sauce is — we do the investing, and we get to know our clients well in the process.”

Topics Covered

• Photonics and data center interconnect: the AI sub-sector James believes is still underpriced
• Why in-house stock research matters — and what gets lost when advisors outsource investment decisions
• How the firm uses X (formerly Twitter) as a research platform and why AI tools still fall short for stock analysis
• Balancing a small, high-upside tech position against a larger dividend-focused portfolio core
• Clark’s experience building a client pipeline from scratch through Apex and what cold outreach actually teaches you
• The discipline of martial arts and what embracing adversity has to do with becoming a better investor
• Life in Phoenix: community, intentionality, and why place matters less than the people you surround yourself with
• The firm’s 23-year foundation of macro research and why that depth can’t be replicated overnight

Key Takeaways

• In-house research is a real differentiator. Most financial advisors outsource their investment decisions entirely. The Dupree team does its own stock research — screening companies, following news, building conviction — which means clients aren’t just getting a planning relationship. They’re getting an active investment mind.
• AI is useful, but not for stock picking. James tested current AI tools for investment research and found them lacking. They work well for financial planning questions, tax research, and general analysis — but when you need to understand why a specific stock moved today, there’s no substitute for human judgment and real-time information sources.
• Photonics is a small bet with meaningful upside. The firm holds a modest position — roughly half a percent of the total portfolio — in photonics-related companies involved in AI data center infrastructure. It’s a high-conviction, small-size approach: limit the downside, let the thesis play out.
• Dividend income changes the retirement equation. When your portfolio throws off regular income, you don’t have to sell assets to cover living expenses. That’s the core of Dupree Financial’s retirement strategy — own things that pay you, so the portfolio can keep compounding even when markets get bumpy.
• Persistence is the actual strategy. Whether it’s martial arts, client development, or stock research, the Dupree sons returned to the same theme: you can’t control outcomes, but you can control showing up. Put yourself in the best position to succeed and let the results follow.
• Know what you own and why. Tom’s message hasn’t changed in 47 years: understanding your portfolio is what keeps you from panic-selling when markets get volatile. Clients who understand the reasoning behind their holdings don’t need to call in a panic — and that’s by design.

About The Tom Dupree Show

The Tom Dupree Show is hosted by Tom Dupree, founder of Dupree Financial Group and a 47-year veteran of the investment business. Each episode covers the financial topics that matter most to retirees and those approaching retirement — in plain English, without the Wall Street spin.

Dupree Financial Group is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Lexington, Kentucky. The firm manages separately managed accounts focused on income-generating, dividend-paying portfolios — no products sold, no commissions, no conflicts of interest.

Past episodes are available at dupreefinancial.com under the Radio tab.

Dupree Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser located in Lexington, Kentucky. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future results.