Gold IRA Custodian Experiences? Thinking about a change.

• •As a military contractor, security and stability are pretty high on my list, and hard assets just make sense to me.
• •Been with them since I first rolled over an old 401k into a Gold IRA.
• •The customer service has been...

I've been holding physical gold in an IRA for a few years now, primarily as a hedge against the kind of market nonsense we've seen lately, especially with everything going on globally. As a military contractor, security and stability are pretty high on my list, and hard assets just make sense to me. My portfolio's somewhere in the low to mid-200s, and honestly, the fees with my current custodian feel like they're eating into my returns a bit more than I'd like. Been with them since I first rolled over an old 401k into a Gold IRA.

I'm based out of Jacksonville, FL, and while I don't necessarily need a local custodian, I'm starting to wonder if I'm getting the best deal or if there are better options out there. The customer service has been... adequate. Nothing spectacular, but no major screw-ups either. Just feels a bit impersonal, and when you're talking about a significant chunk of your retirement nest egg, you want to feel a bit more connected, or at least like your questions aren't a bother.

So, I'm throwing this out to the community: who are you using for your Gold IRA custodian? What's been your experience with them, specifically regarding fees and customer service? Are there any hidden charges I should be looking out for if I decide to switch? The idea of moving these assets makes me a little nervous, so any insights into the transfer process would be hugely appreciated.

Has anyone here in Florida (or elsewhere, I'm not picky) had a particularly good (or bad) experience they'd be willing to share? I'm trying to weigh the potential savings against the hassle and risk of changing, so all perspectives are welcome. Thanks in advance!