5 years in with a Gold IRA - My experience & looking for

• •Hard to believe it's been five years since I first opened my Gold IRA.
• •My initial thought was pure protection against inflation and market downturns.
• •Honestly, I wasn't expecting massive, overnight gains, more like a steady, reliable anchor for my retirement nest egg.

Hard to believe it's been five years since I first opened my Gold IRA. As a real estate agent here in Miami, I've seen firsthand how volatile markets can be, and after a particularly rough patch in the stock market around 2018, I decided to diversify beyond just traditional assets. Started with about $100k going into gold and silver, and I've been slowly adding to it, now sitting around $180k mostly in American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maples.

My initial thought was pure protection against inflation and market downturns. Honestly, I wasn't expecting massive, overnight gains, more like a steady, reliable anchor for my retirement nest egg. And for the most part, that's what it's been. It definitely rode out some of the bigger market scares better than my more aggressive stock holdings. There were times I looked at the spot price and felt a little FOMO, especially when tech was booming, but seeing everything else dip while my gold stayed relatively stable was a real comfort.

Looking back, I'd say the biggest pro has been the peace of mind. Knowing a chunk of my retirement is in a tangible asset that historically holds its value has been huge for my personal stress levels. The cons? Well, obviously, there's no dividend income, and storage fees are a thing. But for me, the trade-off has been worth it. I'm curious to hear from others who've been in Gold IRAs for a similar timeframe. What have your returns looked like? Did you rebalance much, or just let it ride?

I'm still planning on continuing to add to it, maybe another $20-30k over the next year if market conditions look right. My ultimate goal is probably to have about 20-25% of my total portfolio in precious metals. What percentage do you guys aim for within your overall retirement strategy? Any Miami locals here with recommendations on specific dealers or storage facilities they trust?