An actuator load beam comprising a preload bend section defining an array of differently configured stiffness-reducing features. The stiffness-reducing features are characteristically sized in inverse relation to a respective distance from a longitudinal centerline of the actuator load beam at the preload bend section. An associated method comprising determining a thickness of a preload bend section for an actuator load beam associated with a desired resonant performance; determining a volume of stiffness-reducing features in the preload bend section associated with a desired vertical stiffness; and arranging an array of stiffness-reducing features associated with the determined volume in an array of sequentially smaller size with the largest size of the array being disposed nearest to a longitudinal centerline of the actuator load beam at the preload bend section.