Gold IRA Custodian - Starting Out, Need Advice!

• •Okay, so I’m just dipping my toes into the Gold IRA world, and honestly, it’s a lot to take in.
• •I finally pulled the trigger and rolled over about $15k from an old 403b, which felt like a massive step.
• •I’m a teacher here in Columbus, and with all the headlines lately, I really wanted some of my retirement savings in something tangible.

Okay, so I’m just dipping my toes into the Gold IRA world, and honestly, it’s a lot to take in. I finally pulled the trigger and rolled over about $15k from an old 403b, which felt like a massive step. I’m a teacher here in Columbus, and with all the headlines lately, I really wanted some of my retirement savings in something tangible. I picked a company that seemed decent for buying the physical gold, but now I’m trying to figure out the best custodian. They all sound good on their websites, but I’ve learned those glossy marketing pages don't always tell the whole story.

Right now, I’m leaning towards one that had slightly lower annual fees for a portfolio my size, but I’m super nervous about things going wrong. I’ve read a few horror stories about people having trouble accessing statements or getting hit with surprise fees when their account balance changed. For someone just starting out with a relatively small amount like mine (hoping to add more each year!), are there specific things I should be looking out for with custodians? Like, do some have better online portals or customer service for smaller accounts?

My biggest fear is just picking the wrong one and then having a huge headache down the road. It took me so long to even get this far! Any Columbus-based folks have recommendations or warnings? Or even just general advice on what to prioritize in a custodian? Are those setup fees worth it if it means better service later, or should I be looking purely at the lowest ongoing costs for a ~$15-20k account?