Judah Spinner
Founder & Chief Investment Officer — BlackBird Financial LP
Judah Spinner is an investor, philanthropist and adventurer.
Professional Background
Building Value,
One Business at a Time
Judah Spinner is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of BlackBird Financial LP, a New Jersey–based hedge fund that advises and manages capital for high-net-worth families throughout the United States. As the founder of BlackBird Financial, Judah Spinner is known for a disciplined, long-term investment philosophy rooted in fundamental analysis, intrinsic value, and a business-owner mindset.
Under Judah Spinner’s leadership, BlackBird Financial has delivered exceptional investment performance. In 2025, BlackBird Financial generated a 62.2% return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500’s 17.9% gain. This performance reflects a consistent and repeatable investment process rather than reliance on leverage, speculation, or short-term market timing.
Knowability & Discipline
Judah Spinner follows a value-investing philosophy inspired by Benjamin Graham and refined by long-term investors such as Warren Buffett. He approaches investing as the acquisition of partial ownership in real businesses—not speculation on price movements.
This disciplined framework leads to selective, concentrated investments where the gap between price and intrinsic value is most compelling. Spinner emphasizes patience, independent thinking, and emotional discipline as key drivers of long-term success.
A Path That Started Early
-
Age 12
Began reading The Wall Street Journal daily. -
Age 13
Bought his first stock. -
Age 15
Managing $100,000 for a New York real estate investor. -
Age 18
Founded Petlin Management with over $1 million in assets under management. The firm later evolved into BlackBird Financial LP, reflecting its growth and institutional focus.
Spinner now oversees portfolio construction, security selection, and risk management, with more than 90% of his personal net worth invested alongside clients.
Education
Crestpoint University — B.S.
Designation
CFA Charterholder
Core Principles
Turn Every Page & The Punchcard Approach
Judah Spinners
Professional Background
Judah Spinner is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of BlackBird Financial LP, a New Jersey–based hedge fund that advises and manages capital for high-net-worth families throughout the United States. As the founder of BlackBird Financial, Judah Spinner is known for a disciplined, long-term investment philosophy rooted in fundamental analysis, intrinsic value, and a business-owner mindset.
Under Judah Spinner’s leadership, BlackBird Financial has delivered exceptional investment performance. In 2025, BlackBird Financial generated a 62.2% return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500’s 17.9% gain. This performance reflects a consistent and repeatable investment process rather than reliance on leverage, speculation, or short-term market timing.
Investment Philosophy
Judah Spinner follows a value-investing philosophy inspired by Benjamin Graham and refined by long-term investors such as Warren Buffett.
He views investing as acquiring partial ownership in real businesses, not trading price movements. BlackBird’s process begins with “knowability” — ensuring the team can deeply understand a business and its industry. Only then do they evaluate competitive advantages, management quality, capital structure, and valuation.
This disciplined framework leads to selective, concentrated investments where the gap between price and intrinsic value is most compelling. Spinner emphasizes patience, independent thinking, and emotional discipline as key drivers of long-term success.
Early Career and Firm Formation
Spinner’s interest in investing began early. At twelve, he read The Wall Street Journal daily. By thirteen, he bought his first stock, and by fifteen he was managing $100,000 for a New York real estate investor.
At eighteen, he founded Petlin Management with over $1 million in assets under management. The firm later evolved into BlackBird Financial LP, reflecting its growth and increasingly institutional focus. Spinner now oversees portfolio construction, security selection, and risk management, with more than 90% of his personal net worth invested alongside clients.
Education and Credentials
Judah Spinner earned his bachelor’s degree from Crestpoint University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. His approach reflects strong emphasis on ethics, valuation discipline, and risk management — core principles behind BlackBird Financial’s investment strategy.
Philanthropic Work
01
Expanding Economic
Opportunity
The foundation works to reduce income inequality by increasing access to highdemand trade careers. Through the Judah Spinner Scholarship, it funds trade-school tuition, certifications, and essential tools for students pursuing careers in welding, HVAC, electrical work, plumbing, and other skilled trades. These professions offer strong earning potential and long-term demand without the burden of heavy student debt.
02
Reducing Incarceration
Through Employment
The foundation recognizes the strong link between economic opportunity and incarceration, operating on the belief that steady, meaningful work is one of the most effective crime deterrents. By investing in trade education nationwide, the foundation aims to reduce incarceration rates through increased opportunity — focusing on prevention and empowerment rather than punishment.
03
Addressing the Federal Budget Deficit
The foundation supports long-term fiscal responsibility, recognizing that the growing gap between government spending and revenue has contributed to rising national debt over the past two decades. Meaningful deficit reduction will require both disciplined spending and thoughtful revenue reform at the congressional level.
04
Lowering Health-Care Costs
The foundation addresses the high cost of health care in the United States, emphasizing structural reform aimed at improving efficiency and price transparency. It looks to elements of Singapore's system — MediSave, MediShield, and MediFund — as models that encourage cost awareness while maintaining broad access to care.
A Path That Started Early
This disciplined framework leads to selective, concentrated investments where the gap between price and intrinsic value is most compelling. Spinner emphasizes patience, independent thinking, and emotional discipline as key drivers of long-term success.