Considering a Gold IRA for the first time – any New York perspectives out there?

• •I’m talking a significant percentage of my 7-figure portfolio, which is admittedly a bit outside the typical financial advisor’s comfort zone.
• •Has anyone here in the five boroughs recently moved a substantial portion of their existing gold into an IRA?
• •What were the headaches?

Alright, so I’ve been sitting on a pretty hefty chunk of my portfolio in physical gold for a quite a while now, mostly bullion and some numismatics acquired over the decades. I’m talking a significant percentage of my 7-figure portfolio, which is admittedly a bit outside the typical financial advisor’s comfort zone. My background on Wall Street instilled in me a deep appreciation for tangible assets, especially after seeing more than a few market crashes from a front-row seat. Now that I’m fully retired and enjoying the calmer pace of life here in NYC, I’m seriously considering a Gold IRA to get some of that held gold into a tax-advantaged account.

I’ve done a decent amount of research, but I'm looking for some real-world experiences, especially from anyone who's recently gone through the process. My concern, being in New York, is obviously navigating any state-specific nuances, though from what I understand, federal rules largely dictate these things. Has anyone here in the five boroughs recently moved a substantial portion of their existing gold into an IRA? What were the headaches? Did you find any particular custodians or depositories were exceptionally smooth to deal with, perhaps even with a New York presence or understanding of the local landscape?

My initial thought is a direct rollover from an existing traditional IRA to a self-directed Gold IRA. I’m trying to avoid any unnecessary taxable events here, as you can imagine. I’ve been through the wringer with enough tax season stress over the years. Also, any thoughts on the best way to handle the valuation for contribution purposes? My gold holdings vary quite a bit in their original purchase price. I recently stumbled on this Gold IRA Quiz which was actually pretty helpful for clarifying some of the basic rules and requirements. Highly recommend it for anyone just starting out. But personal anecdotes are what I’m really after now.

So, for those of you who’ve pulled the trigger on a Gold IRA, what did you wish you knew going in? Any red flags or common pitfalls I should be intensely looking out for? I’m talking about potential hidden fees, difficulties with physical storage access (even though I plan for it to be quite hands-off once established), or anything that just made you say, "Ugh, I wish someone had told me about that." Thanks in advance for any insights, fellows.