Gold IRA advice for a newbie? My experience, but need fresh perspectives.

• •Okay, so I've been in gold for decades, mostly physical, some mining stocks back when I was still in the oil fields.
• •Texas tea and yellow metal, that's been my retirement plan.
• •I've got a decent sized portfolio, probably in the $3-4 million range, and a good chunk of that is currently in physical bullion stored securely.

Okay, so I've been in gold for decades, mostly physical, some mining stocks back when I was still in the oil fields. Texas tea and yellow metal, that's been my retirement plan. But a potential family situation (estate planning, grandkids college funds, you know how it goes) has me seriously looking at a Gold IRA for the first time. I've got a decent sized portfolio, probably in the $3-4 million range, and a good chunk of that is currently in physical bullion stored securely. I'm thinking of moving about $500k-$750k of that into an IRA for some tax advantages and diversification within the retirement bucket.

My concern isn't "should I buy gold?" – I'm a believer through and through. It's the mechanics of a Gold IRA that are new to me. I've talked to a couple of companies, and they all sound great on the phone, but I'm wary. You hear stories. I'm looking at American Hartford Gold and Augusta Precious Metals right now. Any personal experiences with either of those, or others? What are the hidden fees I should really be digging into? I'm used to physical ownership where my only cost is storage and maybe insurance. This whole "custodian" and "depository" thing feels like a whole new layer of potential gotchas.

Specifically, how important is the choice of depository? The companies usually partner with a few, but is there a significant difference in costs or security between, say, Delaware Depository and Brinks? Also, what's been your experience with annual fees? Are they usually a flat rate, or a percentage of assets? For someone with a half-million plus, a percentage could quickly eat into gains. I retired from ExxonMobil a few years back, so I'm used to scrutinizing every line item on a financial statement.

Finally, any advice on rolling over existing retirement funds vs. using new capital for a direct contribution? My financial advisor is giving me the standard line, but I'm more interested in real-world experiences from people who've actually done it. Just trying to make sure I don't stumble on something silly when making a move of this magnitude, especially after all these years of careful planning. Appreciate any insights folks can offer!