Gold IRA Custodian: Fidelity vs. Other Options?

• •Mostly considering American Gold Eagles and Canadian Gold Maples for liquidity and recognition.
• •I'm wondering if anyone here has successfully used Fidelity as their custodian for a *physical* Gold IRA, and if so, what was that experience like?
• •Were there any hidden fees or complexities I should be aware of?

Alright, so I’m really trying to make a final decision on a Gold IRA custodian and could use some collective wisdom from folks who’ve actually been through this. My current setup is a bit patchwork, with a decent chunk of my physical gold in a private vault down here in Houston, but I'm looking to roll over some of my old 401k funds (we're talking mid-six figures here, maybe a quarter mil initially) into an IRA that specifically holds gold coins. Mostly considering American Gold Eagles and Canadian Gold Maples for liquidity and recognition.

My traditional brokerage accounts are all with Fidelity, and honestly, their platform and customer service have been stellar for my stock and bond investments over the years. I know they offer some precious metals options, but from what I’ve seen, it’s mostly through third-party partnerships or maybe not as directly integrated as I’d like for physical gold held in an IRA. I'm wondering if anyone here has successfully used Fidelity as their custodian for a physical Gold IRA, and if so, what was that experience like? Were there any hidden fees or complexities I should be aware of? Or did you end up going with another specialist provider?

I’ve poked around with a few dedicated precious metals IRA custodians, and some of their fee structures seem a bit higher than what I’m used to with my traditional accounts. Given my portfolio size (comfortably in the 7-figure range, not including the house), I’m obviously looking for security and reliability first and foremost, but also want to avoid getting nickeled and dimed on storage and administrative fees. When I retired from the energy sector a few years back, I swore I'd simplify my financial life, but this gold IRA decision feels like it's adding complexity rather than removing it. Any stories about a seamless transfer or, conversely, a complete nightmare with a particular custodian would be incredibly helpful. What kind of annual fees are you all seeing for storage and administration for, say, $250k-$500k in gold coins?

Ultimately, I want to make sure I’m setting this up right for the long haul. My kids aren't going to want to deal with a convoluted mess down the line. So, Fidelity for physical gold IRA, yay or nay? Or is there another custodian out there that truly stands head and shoulders above the rest for this specific type of investment? Share your experiences, good or bad!