Caps for 401(k) and other retirement plan contributions in 1999 will...

Caps for 401(k) and other retirement plan contributions in 1999 will remain the same as in 1998 because of virtually nonexistent inflation. Thus, the maximum annual payout from a traditional pension plan will stay at $130,000; the maximum annual contributions working Americans can make to defined contribution retirement plans will continue to be $30,000; and the amount working Americans can sock away in their 401(k) or 403(b) plans will still be $10,000, according to the Segal Co., an employee consulting firm. The only change is the maximum amount of salary on which Social Security contributions are based, which will rise to $72,600 in 1999 from $68,400 in 1998.