Mary Ann Best & Jordan Forney: Bernstein & Co. Advisors Face Complaint

Washington, DC financial advisors Mary Ann Best (CRD# 4389355) and Jordan Forney (CRD# 6156849) allegedly recommended an unsuitable investment, according to a recent investor complaint. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that she is currently a broker with Sanford C. Bernstein & Company and an investment advisor with AllianceBernstein.

Ms. Best’s and Mr. Forney’s BrokerCheck reports each disclose one investor complaint. Filed in February 2023, it alleges that as representatives of Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, they recommended unsuitable alternative investments. The pending complaint alleges damages of $489,703.26.

In a statement included with the pending complaint’s disclosure, the representatives and Sanford C. Bernstein & Company defend themselves against the claim. “The Firm and the Registered Representative deny the allegations and believe they are without merit,” the statement says. “Customer chose to invest in the product at issue after the risk of loss was fully disclosed and after the customer independently determined that the product was an appropriate investment. In effect, the Customer is expecting the Registered Representative and the Firm to guarantee the investment’s performance.”

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Mary Ann Best holds 21 years of securities industry experience. Based in Washington, DC, she has been a broker with Sanford C. Bernstein & Company and an investment advisor with AllianceBernstein since 2011. Her registration history includes JP Morgan Securities (2009-2011), AllianceBernstein (2001-2009), and Sanford C. Bernstein & Company (2001-2009). Her credentials include the passage of six securities industry qualifying exams: the General Securities Sales Supervisor – General Module Examination, or Series 10; the General Securities Sales Supervisor – Options Module Examination, or Series 9; the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7; the Futures Managed Funds Examination, or Series 31; the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; and the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, or Series 66. She currently holds 37 state licenses.

Mr. Forney, meanwhile, holds 10 years of securities industry experience, according to FINRA records. Based in DC, he has been a broker with Sanford C. Bernstein & Company since 2011 and an investment advisor with AllianceBernstein since 2016. His credentials include the passage of four securities industry qualifying exam and he holds 45 state licenses. (Information current as of May 7, 2023.)

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