First Gold IRA - What was your biggest hurdle?

• •Thinking about finally pulling the trigger on a Gold IRA and moving a significant portion of my retirement funds over from my traditional accounts.
• •I've been researching for months now, mostly on my own, and it seems like the right move for my portfolio given the current economic climate.
• •My current portfolio is sitting comfortably in the mid-seven figures, but I want to diversify away from just paper assets.

Thinking about finally pulling the trigger on a Gold IRA and moving a significant portion of my retirement funds over from my traditional accounts. I've been researching for months now, mostly on my own, and it seems like the right move for my portfolio given the current economic climate. I’m a retiree from Wall Street, so I’ve seen enough cycles to know when to trust my gut, and right now, my gut says metals are the way to go for long-term stability. My current portfolio is sitting comfortably in the mid-seven figures, but I want to diversify away from just paper assets. I'm in NYC, and the whole "bank on it" mentality is still pretty ingrained here, but I'm looking beyond that.

I'm looking at moving about a substantial chunk into precious metals, definitely more than I’ve ever had before. I’ve always had a decent allocation to physical gold and silver, but this is different – this is the retirement nest egg we’re talking about. I ran through that Eligibility Checker a few times just to be sure I qualify, and it looks like I'm good to go, which is a relief. It really takes some of the guesswork out of the initial steps.

My biggest concern right now isn't if to do it, but how to make sure I'm not overlooking any gotchas during the actual rollover process. I've heard some horror stories about hidden fees or slow transfers, and frankly, after decades of navigating complex financial instruments, I'm just looking for a smooth execution. For those of you who've already gone through this, what was the absolute biggest headache or unexpected hurdle you encountered? Was it the paperwork, finding a reliable custodian, or something else entirely?

Any advice from folks who have recently set up a Gold IRA would be hugely appreciated. I’m especially interested in hearing from anyone who transferred a larger sum. What should I be prioritizing when choosing a dealer and a custodian? Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand that would have saved you time or stress? Thanks in advance!