Feeling stuck comparing Gold IRA fees - anybody have experience?

• •Okay, so I’ve been looking into rolling over a portion of my 401k into a Gold IRA.
• •I've got a decent chunk, probably in the low end of the $100-250k range that I'm considering moving.
• •I've been doing my homework, but honestly, the fee structures among different Gold IRA companies are giving me a headache.

Okay, so I’ve been looking into rolling over a portion of my 401k into a Gold IRA. I’m an accountant here in Atlanta, so I completely get the tax advantages and the diversification aspect, especially with the current market volatility we're seeing. I've got a decent chunk, probably in the low end of the $100-250k range that I'm considering moving. I've been doing my homework, but honestly, the fee structures among different Gold IRA companies are giving me a headache. It feels like every company has a slightly different way of nickel-and-diming you, from setup fees, annual storage fees, insurance, even potential liquidation fees down the line. Some charge a percentage, some a flat fee, and some a mix of both. It’s making a direct comparison feel almost impossible.

I’ve looked at a few of the big names – Augusta, Goldco, Birch Gold – and they all have their pros and cons. My biggest concern is making sure I fully understand the all-in cost. It's one thing to see a "low annual fee," but then you find out about a hefty premium on the metals themselves, or some obscure transaction fee. I'm trying to avoid any nasty surprises down the road. I'm specifically curious if anyone has gone through this process recently and has some real-world examples of what their annual fees actually shook out to be, especially for portfolios in that $100k-$250k range. Did you negotiate any fees? Were there any hidden costs you only discovered after signing up?

Also, on the storage side, I’m leaning towards segregated storage for obvious reasons, but the cost difference can be significant. Is the peace of mind worth the extra annual expense in your experience? I'm trying to weigh that against the slightly lower cost of unsegregated storage. Any insights on reputable depositories and their fee structures would be super helpful too. I feel like I'm close to pulling the trigger, but this fee comparison is the last hurdle.

I found a Gold IRA Quiz recently that helped a bit with the basics, but it didn't really dive deep into the fee comparison aspect as much as I'd like. It’s a good starting point for learning about gold IRAs though. What strategies did you use to really nail down the true cost of your Gold IRA? Any companies you’d recommend or strongly advise against based on their fee structure and transparency?