Amanda Umpierrez

Denver

Writer at Freelance

Managing Editor at 401(k) Specialist

Managing editor @401kspecmag. Queens native. She/her. Opinions my own.

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Articles

Midland Advisory Partners with Dimensional on Annuities

6 days ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Midland Advisory, part of Midland National Life Insurance Company, announced a new collaboration with Dimensional Fund Advisors to enhance index-linked annuity solutions. Dimensional will offer a registered index-linked annuity (RILA), in which performance is linked to a custom index constructed using Dimensional’s systematic active exchange traded funds (ETFs).
Allianz Life Debuts Enhanced Annuity Options

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America announced that it is launching enhanced versions of two fixed index annuities in response to consumer demand and to further help protect Americans from ongoing market volatility.
Public Sector Employees Admit Needing Retirement Guidance

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

A recent survey of public sector employees found that a majority are concerned they haven’t received the level of guidance needed to prepare for retirement. A report by MissionSquare Research Institute found that 60% of 1,009 full-time state and local government employees, including those in education, public safety, and health and human services, say they need support in understanding the amount needed to allocate for the long-term.
Pontera Names Chief Legal Officer

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Pontera has appointed Kris Beck to the role of chief legal officer. In this role, Beck will oversee the legal and compliance teams and all related matters at Pontera. She will report to Yoav Zurel, chief executive officer. Beck has over two decades of experience in corporate law, with expertise in the technology and financial services industries.
DOL Halts Reinforcement on Independent Contractor Rule

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on May 1 announced that it would stop enforcing the independent contractor rule previously imposed by former President Joe Biden’s administration. The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division issued a field assistance bulletin last week with updated guidance on interpreting employee and independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Social Security Bill Proposes Changes in Terminology

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Reintroduced bipartisan legislation aims to adjust the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) terminology to add better clarity and understanding when claiming benefits. U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Coons (D-DE) reintroduced the bill last week with hopes of encouraging Americans to claim benefits at their maximum level. Currently, Social Security benefits are made available to Americans at age 62.
DC Plan Sponsors See Less Engagement with Retirement Income

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Engagement and education gaps involving retirement income remain a major concern for plan sponsors within defined contribution plans (DC), finds a recent study by the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA). According to the group’s latest study, “Decision-Maker Voices on Retirement Income: Opportunities and Obstacles,” plan sponsors are seeing low financial literacy and limited engagement surrounding retirement income.
Employees Call For Greater Access to HSAs

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Despite assets growing to nearly $147 billion in 2024, only a small number of participants funded their health savings accounts (HSAs) within the past year. According to HSA Bank’s 2025 Health & Wealth Index, just 10% of employees funded an HSA or invested in HSA funds. The dwindled number presents an opportunity for plan sponsors and retirement plan advisors to offer education and accessibility on the product, HSA Bank reports.
Millennials Optimistic On Retirement Longevity

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Millennial workers are the likeliest to anticipate living 30 years or longer into retirement, but a recent study questions whether they’ll have enough savings to secure a comfortable lifestyle then. The report by the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center finds that 26% of Millennials expect to live 30 years or more in retirement—the most out of all age cohorts surveyed.
Vanguard Rollouts Generative AI Technology on Client Summaries

1 week ago | 401kspecialistmag.com | Amanda Umpierrez

Vanguard today announced the launch of its Generative AI capability aimed at tailoring market summaries for clients based on financial acumen, life stage, and tone. Vanguard’s Client-Ready Article Summaries provides personalized synopses of its highest-read market outlooks and generates necessary disclosures to accompany the summaries. The investment manager says its new feature reduces administrative tasks for financial advisors wanting to maximize time and efficiency with clients.