Foreign stock funds have been dead money in my portfolio for many years. My funds all have relatively good long-term returns compared to comparable funds, but foreign stocks in general have sucked for the past decade or longer. That said, I recently rebalanced my portfolio, adding to my foreign funds under the premise that sooner or later they will outperform US stocks.
My funds (in various IRA and 401k) accounts include ARTKX, MAPIX, SFGIX, PSILX and a total international index fund. However, it’s hard for me to recommend any of them because the returns have all been so terrible in recent years.

Even a stopped watch is correct twice in 24 hours. Hussman (HSGFX) after 9 years of missing the bull market completely is finally right. I never thought I'd find myself complementing this fund, but it goes to show every manager has his day in the sun. Hussman's fund was up +13.1% over the last 3 months of the year!
Anyone think it could be a short term buy to get through a bear market, possibly a recession? Crazy thought?

I disagree with your interpretation of the quoted statement (quoted from where?)
It suggests that employees should invest only in "funds managed by the firm", not just funds they manage, and not just managers but all employees.
Regarding employees, it would make more sense to me to confine this restriction to anyone with investing responsibilities, including analysts and traders, but not the cleaning crew, answering service, etc. assuming any of these people are employees.
In practice, money management firms may have a hard time imposing this policy. A number of firms have been sued over their retirement plans when they have included only house funds. See, e.g. this suit against SEI. Though the Barron's article cited below implies the issue may be more about excessive fees or poor performance; it claims that exclusive use of house funds is in itself okay:
" the law gives companies wide flexibility to design and run plans as they see fit. Employers aren’t required to select index funds or the lowest-cost shares; they can use their own investment products exclusively."
https://www.barrons.com/articles/fidelity-blackrock-401k-lawsuit-1539977967

@Bitzer and @Mulder420,
thanks very much for your feedback. I'm taking a hard look at Vanguard funds due to the low cost and good performance. I'm intrigued by the approach that Vanguard International Growth has taken. Good relative performance last year and also very strong on 3, 5 and 10 year performance. I'll take a look at T. Rowe Overseas Stock -- thanks for that recommendation. Thanks also for steering me to their emerging markets value and Asia Opportunities too. Will research both.
Any other thoughts from other board members?

FYI: Amid political turmoil around the world, the Morningstar Global Markets Index dropped 14% in the fourth quarter to Dec. 20, leaving the broad measure 10% below where it had started 2018.
From a bottom-up perspective, global equities are beginning to look attractive. The median stock across our 1,500-plus coverage trades at a 14% discount to our estimate of fair value. Entering the fourth quarter, we had pegged the typical stock as fairly valued. Not surprisingly, we also see more strong buying opportunities, with 6% of our coverage trading at 5 stars, up from 2% a few months ago.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.morningstar.com/articles/904716/stock-market-outlook-global-equities-are-starting-.html

A couple interesting excerpts I took away from the article (some may not like the 1st one, but I totally agree with Madell even if it hurts short-term:

Should The Fed Have Raised Rates?
It would have been a bad precedent to halt restoring normalcy just to sooth stock market investors. Likewise, the Fed wouldn't want to give the appearance of being pressured by the President. Given that the Fed is supposed to be a totally independent body, recent Presidents have rarely publically tried to influence it, and so the Chairperson said, totally properly, they would not be influenced by "politics."

Bull or Bear? What to Do as We Enter 2019?
I personally am not selling any stocks, having done so already for the last several years. I believe in the adage - sell stocks when prices are high, and by the same token, buy when prices are low. While prices are lower than they have been for a while, they are not low enough for me to be tempted to buy.

FYI: Global markets logged a weak start to the new year, with indexes in Europe and Asia dropping on the first trading day of 2019.
The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 1.7% on Wednesday shortly after the open. France’s CAC 40 lost 2.6% and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 was down 1.9%.
The downbeat mood across markets followed a turbulent holiday period, when U.S. indexes seesawed over the Christmas week.
The WSJ Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of 16 currencies, was broadly flat. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield ticked down to 2.670%, from 2.684% at the close of 2018. Yields move inversely to prices.
In Asia, weak economic data sent markets lower. The China Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers index fell to 49.7 in December, according to data released Wednesday. That is the first time the sector has been in contraction territory—below 50—since May 2017.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index led declines, falling 2.4% midday. The Shanghai Composite Index was off by 1.1% and Australia’s S&P/ASX was down 1.5%. Japanese stocks were closed for a public holiday.
Regards,
Ted
WSJ:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-chinas-deteriorating-growth-could-ripple-through-markets-in-2019-11546397231?mod=hp_lead_pos1
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-01/asian-stocks-to-usher-in-new-year-on-cautious-note-markets-wrap?srnd=premium
MarketWatch:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dow-futures-sink-more-than-300-points-to-kick-of-2019-as-asian-markets-tumble-2019-01-02/print
IBD:
https://www.investors.com/market-trend/stock-market-today/dow-jones-futures-2019-stock-market-rally-lets-make-a-deal-trump/
Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets/world-stocks-nurse-a-new-years-hangover-as-growth-worries-persist-idUSKCN1OW01N?il=0
CNBC:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/stock-markets-dow-futures-fall-after-weak-economic-data-in-china.html
Europe:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-stocks/european-shares-start-2019-deep-in-the-red-idUSKCN1OW0I5?il=0
Asia:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/data-showing-chinese-manufacturing-cooling-put-asia-stock-markets-in-early-hole-for-2019-2019-01-01/print
Bonds:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/forex-markets-japanese-yen-australian-dollar-global-economy-in-focus.html
Currencies:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/forex-markets-japanese-yen-australian-dollar-global-economy-in-focus.html
Oil:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/oil-markets-us-crude-production-global-economy-in-focus.html:
Gold:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/gold-markets-global-economy-stock-markets-in-focus.html
Current Futures:
https://finviz.com/futures.ashx

http://funds-newsletter.com/jan19-newsletter/jan19.htm
By Tom Madell
Down through almost 20 years, my Newsletter has tried to be about just one main thing: helping readers pick the best mutual funds, and more recently, ETFs. I have tried to avoid detailed discussion of economics, and have usually been leery of making market predictions. But all efforts to steer investors toward what I concluded were likely the best investments and fund categories to select for the next several years were, in reality, implicit predictions.

i searched thru all of the cefs that ipo'd that year about 10-15 when the article came out and nothing clicked for me.
Think he was wrong on the year

@ET91: Sorry but unable to help !
Regards,
Ted
https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-stock-market-crash-that-almost-no-one-heard-51545417177?tesla=y&mod=article_inline

I was just reading Barron's Dec 24 2018 issue (Forsyth article: the worst week in a decade). He mentioned that a big closed-end fund (from one of the largest managers) plummeted on Dec 20 when it crossed its IPO price (he is quoting Steve O'Neill from RiverNorth Capital Management). He wouldn't mention the CEF. Does anyone have any idea which CEF he is talking about? Thanks.

FYI:
Regards,
Ted
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/12/31/art-cashin-looking-2019.html?&qsearchterm=Art Cashin

FYI: Global stocks rose Monday, capping a volatile year for markets amid signs of progress in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China.
The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.4% in midmorning trade following an upbeat session in Asia. Some markets across the world were closed for the New Year’s Eve holiday. Oil prices also gained while the dollar fell slightly.
On Wall Street, futures pointed to opening gains of 0.9% for the S&P 500. Still, U.S. stocks were on course to record their worst December since 1931.
Over the weekend, President Trump tweeted that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had recently talked by phone and made “big progress” in trade talks that are due to wrap up on March 1. A team of U.S. trade officials is expected in Beijing the week of Jan. 7 for several days of talks.
Regards,
Ted
WSJ:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stocks-rise-to-end-turbulent-2018-11546247179?mod=hp_lead_pos1
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-30/u-s-stock-futures-rally-after-trump-xi-big-progress-phonecall?srnd=premium
MarketWatch:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-climb-over-trade-deal-hopes-in-last-session-of-2018-2018-12-31/print
IBD:
https://www.investors.com/market-trend/stock-market-today/dow-jones-futures-stock-market-rally-top-stocks/
Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks-lastday/wall-street-may-gain-monday-but-unlikely-to-mute-december-losses-idUSKCN1OU00S
CNBC:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/31/stock-market-wall-street-stocks-eye-us-china-trade-talks.html
Europe:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-stocks/european-shares-in-tentative-new-years-eve-rise-after-bruising-2018-idUSKCN1OU0C1
Asia: (Most Asian Markets Closed)
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/hong-kong-stocks-rise-in-abbreviated-asian-trading-day-2018-12-30/print
Bonds: (Early Close Bond Market 2:00 EST)
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/31/bond-market-yields-under-pressure-as-market-volatility-continues.html
Currencies:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/28/forex-markets-japanese-yen-swiss-franc-us-china-trade-in-focus.html
Oil:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/31/brent-crude-rises-but-set-for-first-yearly-drop-since-2015.html
Gold:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/31/gold-set-for-first-annual-decline-in-three-years.html
Current Futures:
https://finviz.com/futures.ashx

Is this Bill Gross's fund ?!?!?!

Yes and no. If the question is whether Gross manages this fund, Shadow's yes is the answer.
If the question is whether this is the billion dollar fund that garnered all the PR, the answer is no. This fund is a teeny, tiny $6.9M fund sold in variable annuities. It's not even a clone. Compare the fact sheets:
Variable Insurance Trust (VIT) Portfolio fact sheet
Mutual fund fact sheet
"shares of the Portfolio are only eligible to be held by insurance company separate accounts on behalf of variable insurance contract owners, or certain qualified retirement plans"

There is an Institutional Share (JUCBX) and Service Share (no symbol) in the Aspen Series.
From this filing, https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/906185/000119312518039980/d533015d485apos.htm ,
the answer to your question would be "yes".
From the filing:
Management
Investment Adviser: Janus Capital Management LLC
Portfolio Manager: William H. Gross is Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Portfolio, which he has managed since January 2015.

The macroeconomic footprint was driven by several factors. In the second year of the Donald Trump presidency, he delivered on some of his promises and started a trade war with China, although a temporary truce was reached lately. A positive for markets overall were Trump’s tax cuts, which gave a boost to the U.S. GDP.
http://mutualfunds.com/news/2018/12/25/mutual-fund-scorecard-annual-edition/

Krugman data analysis from yesterday:
... around 1/3 of the surge in after-tax profits actually goes to foreigners. That's probably enough to ensure that the tax cut actually made America poorer. Great work all around.

There's pushing the envelope and there's playing well within the lines. Not completing one's first RMD until April 1 of the year after which one turns 70½ is the latter.
One might as well suggest that contributing to a 2018 IRA in March 2019 is a gray area.
Here's an IRS page clearly stating that both of those are fine. Just following the rules of the game.
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/ira-year-end-reminders

MSF gives good advice. Since I'm squarely in the middle of the 24% bracket, it would take a tremendous windfall (or winning the lottery) to push me into a higher bracket. My RMD won't do it. On the other hand, if I should choose to retire in 2019 (I'll be 71), I would almost definitely drop into a lower bracket. So I'll take the rest of my RMD in 2019.
On a side note, SS just sent us letters raising our IRMAA Part B and D to $270 next year. My wife thinks I should make up the difference to her since I'm "at fault" for having income. Ha Ha! Happy New Year.

FYI: From time to time, Barron’s writes about preferred stocks, which are of particular interest to income-seeking investors. They aren’t as sexy as common stocks because their price moves—up or down—are more restrained. But that relative stability attracts some folks, as does the offer of juicier dividend yields, compared with those of plain equities. Moreover, when preferred prices fall significantly—as some have now—there’s the potential for capital gains, too.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.barrons.com/articles/why-now-could-be-the-time-to-look-at-preferred-stocks-51546042631?mod=djem_b_Weekly Feed for Barrons Magazine
WSJ Preferred Stock Table:
http://www.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3024-Preferreds.html?mod=mdc_uss_pglnk
Quantum Online.Com
http://www.quantumonline.com/QuickStart.cfm
KEY-J:
http://www.quantumonline.com/search.cfm?tickersymbol=KEY-J&sopt=symbol
COF-G:
http://www.quantumonline.com/search.cfm?tickersymbol=COF-G&sopt=symbol
TCF-D:
http://www.quantumonline.com/search.cfm?tickersymbol=TCF-D&sopt=symbol

While I appreciate the thought, I'm not infallible (as @Junkster well knows) and I prefer the adage: teach someone to fish ...
With that in mind, IMHO the best source is the documentation (RTFM), not some person, even the manager who may not be responsible for the bookkeeping. The prospectus reads:

FUND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income to shareholders in the form of dividends. The Fund intends to declare and distribute income dividends every two weeks to shareholders of record.

I don't know how a fund could accrue dividends on the 13 days out of every fortnight that it didn't declare dividends.
Since Junkster mentioned PIMCO, here's PIMCO's page summarizing its funds' distribution schedule. It seems to give a pretty clear description of how daily accrual works (and who gets the divs):

Daily Accrual Dividends: Dividends are declared daily to that day's "settled" shareowners of record for the amount of net investment income earned that day.