Gold IRA Custodian horror stories (and who actually rocks?)

• •Okay, so I’ve been sitting on a chunk of my retirement, about $180k, in a Gold IRA for a few years now.
• •Y’all know how cyclical things can be – one hurricane or recession rumor, and bookings dry up faster than August kudzu.
• •My current custodian, without naming names (yet), has been… fine .

Okay, so I’ve been sitting on a chunk of my retirement, about $180k, in a Gold IRA for a few years now. Got into it after the 2008 crash burned me pretty bad with some tech stocks, and honestly, gold has been a steady ship through the choppy waters of tourism here in Savannah. Y’all know how cyclical things can be – one hurricane or recession rumor, and bookings dry up faster than August kudzu.

My current custodian, without naming names (yet), has been…fine. But just “fine” isn't cutting it for me anymore, especially with the fees creeping up and their communication getting slower than molasses in January. I had a nightmare trying to get a statement clarified a few months back that took like three weeks of back-and-forth emails. It’s got me seriously considering a switch. I mean, we're talking about a significant portion of my financial future here, not just pocket change.

So, I’m throwing it out to the hive mind: who are you guys using for your Gold IRA custodians, and more importantly, why do you like them? Any specific features stand out? Are their fees transparent, or do they play hide-and-seek? And on the flip side, who should I absolutely avoid like a crowded River Street on St. Patrick's Day? I'm particularly interested if anyone has experience with custodians that are good with slightly more diverse precious metals beyond just standard government-minted coins – I’ve got some specific gold rounds I’ve collected over the years that I’d love to include if possible.

Any insights, horror stories, or glowing recommendations would be hugely appreciated. Trying to make an informed decision before I pull the trigger on a transfer.