401k to Gold IRA transfer - my timeline, looking for others' experiences

• •So, I finally pulled the trigger on getting a chunk of my 401k rolled into a Gold IRA.
• •Been thinking about it for a while, especially with all the economic uncertainty we've been seeing.
• •Running a tourism business down here in Savannah, you really feel those cycles.

So, I finally pulled the trigger on getting a chunk of my 401k rolled into a Gold IRA. Been thinking about it for a while, especially with all the economic uncertainty we've been seeing. Running a tourism business down here in Savannah, you really feel those cycles. One minute it's boom times, the next you're wondering if you should've bought more inventory before the cruise lines pull out for a season. Diversifying about $150k of my portfolio felt like the smart play, especially with gold's track record as a hedge.

I started the process about three weeks ago. Picked a company after doing a fair bit of research – mostly looking at reviews and making sure they had good storage options. The initial paperwork was pretty straightforward, mostly e-signatures and getting my old 401k provider to cooperate. That part actually went smoother than I expected, probably because I had all my account numbers handy. My old provider sent the check out about five business days after I initiated the request.

The check arrived at the Gold IRA custodian last Thursday. Now I'm just waiting on confirmation that the precious metals have been purchased and stored. The rep told me it usually takes another 5-7 business days from when they receive the funds to when everything is finalized and in the vault. So, all in all, I'm hoping to be completely done within about a month from my initial contact. That feels a bit long, but I guess it's a big transaction.

Anyone else here go through a 401k rollover recently? What was your timeline like? Did you run into any unexpected snags? I'm particularly curious about the final stretch – the actual purchasing and storage confirmations. Did you get immediate updates, or was it more of a "wait and see" situation? Just trying to manage my expectations here, as it's a decent chunk of change I'm moving around.