Gold IRA Fees - My Take & Seeking Advice for a Big Purchase

• •I've been deep-diving into gold IRA companies again, and frankly, the fee structures are still opaque to me.
• •I've had my Gold IRA for about 8 years now, initially rolling over a good chunk from an old 401k to the tune of about $600k.
• •My primary goal was always wealth preservation, not aggressive growth, which is why precious metals resonated so much with me.

I've been deep-diving into gold IRA companies again, and frankly, the fee structures are still opaque to me. I've had my Gold IRA for about 8 years now, initially rolling over a good chunk from an old 401k to the tune of about $600k. My primary goal was always wealth preservation, not aggressive growth, which is why precious metals resonated so much with me. Given the current market volatility and some concerning economic indicators I'm seeing even as a lawyer here in Philly, I'm seriously considering adding another $100k-$150k worth of physical gold to my IRA later this year.

My concern is that even after all this time, I still feel like I'm not getting the most straightforward answers on fees. It's not just the initial setup or transaction fees, but the ongoing storage and administrative costs that really add up over a decade or more. Some companies seem to bundle, others itemize, and then you have the annual percentage vs. flat fee conundrum. For someone with a significant investment like mine, a difference of even 0.25% in annual storage fees can translate to thousands of dollars over time. My current custodian isn't terrible, but I want to ensure I'm not leaving money on the table, especially with this upcoming purchase.

I’ve used that Tax Calculator a few times to get a rough idea of the tax implications of various scenarios, which has been incredibly helpful. But it doesn't really shed light on the comparative fee structures of different gold IRA providers themselves. Has anyone here recently done a deep dive into comparing the fee breakdowns for companies like Augusta Precious Metals, Goldco, Birch Gold Group, or others for larger account sizes? I'm particularly interested in hearing from those with portfolios in the $500k-$1M range. What hidden costs did you uncover?

I'm looking for specifics: what were your annual storage fees (percentage or flat)? Did you get any waived fees for a certain period? What were the transaction fees like for larger purchases? Any insights or direct comparisons you can share would be incredibly valuable as I prepare to make this next move. I'm trying to avoid a costly mistake on this next tranche.