Gold IRA Custodian Experiences and Recommendations - Especially for Silver Bars

• •I've had my Gold IRA for about 7 years now, started it right after I left banking and decided I wanted to diversify beyond just paper assets.
• •Currently, I've got around $350k in it, with a decent chunk of that being 100oz silver bars.
• •I'm based in Portland, and while I know the actual storage isn't local, I'd expect a bit more clarity.

Alright, so I'm trying to figure out if I'm just being overly cautious or if this is a common theme with Gold IRA custodians, specifically when it comes to holding physical silver bars. I've had my Gold IRA for about 7 years now, started it right after I left banking and decided I wanted to diversify beyond just paper assets. Currently, I've got around $350k in it, with a decent chunk of that being 100oz silver bars. The problem isn't with the performance, thankfully, but with the communication and transparency from my current custodian regarding their storage facilities and audit processes for the silver.

I'm based in Portland, and while I know the actual storage isn't local, I'd expect a bit more clarity. When I was a bank manager, we had rigorous internal and external audits for our vaults, and I just don't feel that same level of assurance from my current setup. I've tried asking more detailed questions about their third-party auditor, their insurance policies specifically for silver, and even the frequency of their internal spot checks. It feels like pulling teeth to get straight answers beyond the boilerplate "it's securely stored and insured" spiel. This is a significant part of my retirement, and given the volatility we've seen, having that tangible asset is crucial to me, but I also need peace of mind about its security.

Has anyone else encountered this? Or am I expecting too much detail from these custodians? I'm debating whether to switch custodians, even though the transfer process seems like a bit of a nightmare. I initially went with a larger, more established name thinking that would mean better service, but maybe a smaller, more specialized firm would be more transparent. Does anyone have any recommendations for custodians that are particularly good with transparency and communication, especially regarding physical silver bars? I'm open to exploring options that might offer a more direct line to information about how my assets are being managed.

I'm really trying to avoid a situation where I feel like my hard-earned diversification is just a line item on a computer screen without true confirmation of the physical asset. Appreciate any insights or shared experiences!