Rolled over my crappy 401k to a Gold IRA - best decision ever?

• •So, I finally pulled the trigger and did a direct rollover from my old 401k into a Gold IRA.
• •I only had about $25,000 in that old 401k account, so it wasn't a huge sum, but it's still a significant chunk for me right now.
• •The whole process was actually way smoother than I expected.

So, I finally pulled the trigger and did a direct rollover from my old 401k into a Gold IRA. Seriously, that 401k from my previous job was just sitting there, barely growing, and honestly, the thought of having all my retirement eggs in paper assets was starting to get to me. I'm still pretty early in my career, saving for retirement, and living here in Charleston, SC, things aren't exactly cheap, so I'm trying to be smart with my money.

I only had about $25,000 in that old 401k account, so it wasn't a huge sum, but it's still a significant chunk for me right now. The whole process was actually way smoother than I expected. I was dreading endless paperwork and phone calls, but my Gold IRA company handled most of the heavy lifting. Took about three weeks from start to finish to get the funds transferred and the physical gold (American Gold Eagles and some Canadian Maples, for anyone wondering!) allocated to my account at the depository.

Honestly, I feel so much better having some tangible assets in my retirement mix. I know some of the traditional finance folks are always harping on about diversification and how gold doesn't pay dividends, but seeing the current economic climate and the way inflation is eating away at everything, having that hedge just feels right. Plus, it's pretty cool to think that a small part of my retirement is literally shiny precious metal.

Anyone else here made a similar move recently? How are you feeling about your decision? Any downsides you've encountered that I should be aware of as I continue to build this part of my portfolio? Still weighing my options on whether to add a bit more in the future or stick to this initial allocation for a while.