Gold IRA for a significant chunk of my portfolio - first time jumping in, need advice

• •I’m thinking about moving a solid 7-figure amount, comfortably north of a million, into precious metals.
• •What I'm really looking for are the practical, boots-on-the-ground experiences.
• •Which custodians have you found to be genuinely reliable, transparent, and have reasonable fees?

Alright, so I’ve been sitting on a pretty substantial amount of cash for a while now, looking for the right spot to diversify, and after watching the market volatility this past year (especially with everything going on globally), I'm finally pulling the trigger on a Gold IRA. I’m thinking about moving a solid 7-figure amount, comfortably north of a million, into precious metals. It's not my first rodeo with alternative assets, obviously, managing hedges for a living, but this is a personal play, and a pretty significant one at that. I'm based here in Greenwich, so I have access to a ton of advisors, but I'm curious what the hive mind thinks about the actual mechanics, the custodians, and any pitfalls you guys have personally experienced.

I’ve done the high-level research, understand the tax advantages of a self-directed IRA, and the appeal of physical gold as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation. What I'm really looking for are the practical, boots-on-the-ground experiences. Which custodians have you found to be genuinely reliable, transparent, and have reasonable fees? Are there any specific types of gold (e.g., American Gold Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, PAMP Suisse bars) you’d recommend or steer clear of for an IRA, from a liquidity perspective down the line? I'm not planning on touching this for a very long time, but still, exit strategy clarity is always a good thing.

Also, how much did the initial setup process sting you? Any unexpected hurdles or delays? I used that Eligibility Checker they have at goldirablueprint.com, and it came back clean for my situation, which is a good starting point, but that's just eligibility, not the actual execution. I'm not worried about the principal amount, but I hate getting nickel-and-dimed or, worse, running into bureaucratic nightmares. Any horror stories to avoid?

Frankly, the idea of having a significant portion of my wealth in something tangible and outside the traditional financial system gives me a surprising amount of peace of mind. It’s not about speculating for me; it’s about capital preservation and genuine diversification. What are your long-term outlooks for gold in an IRA context, especially with the current economic climate? Appreciate any insights you seasoned gold bugs can offer.