Is there even such a thing as a "small investor" for Gold IRAs anymore?

• •Been seeing a lot of posts lately about the "best gold IRA companies for small investors," and it got me thinking.
• •What even constitutes a "small investor" these days when it comes to precious metals IRAs?
• •I remember feeling like even with a solid chunk of change, some of these companies felt like they were geared towards the ultra-rich.

Been seeing a lot of posts lately about the "best gold IRA companies for small investors," and it got me thinking. What even constitutes a "small investor" these days when it comes to precious metals IRAs? I've got a decent portfolio, somewhere in the $750k range myself, and I wouldn't exactly call myself a whale, but I'm definitely not starting out with a couple grand either. When I first got into this, maybe 5 years ago, I was looking to diversify the 401k from my logistics company here in Memphis, getting ready for my son to take over. I remember feeling like even with a solid chunk of change, some of these companies felt like they were geared towards the ultra-rich.

I mean, what's everyone's cutoff for "small"? Is it by dollar amount, percentages of total portfolio, or just feeling out of your depth? I'm trying to wrap my head around whether the advice out there for "small investors" really applies to someone who might have, say, $50k-$100k they want to roll into gold, or are we talking more like someone with $5k looking to dip their toes in? It feels like the goalposts keep moving, and with inflation doing its thing, what was "small" a few years ago might be considered a pretty respectable starting point now. I'm honestly curious if there are companies specifically catering to folks with a lower entry point who still want the security gold offers without getting hosed on fees.

My experience has been that most of the major players are happy to take your money, no matter the amount, but the fees and minimums can really eat into those smaller accounts. I'm talking about the setup fees, annual maintenance, storage fees – it all adds up quickly when you're not moving a ton of capital. For me, with my succession plan for the business pretty much set, I'm just trying to make sure I'm diversified and protected, but I can empathize with those just starting out.

So, for real, what companies are people finding that are genuinely good for someone who isn't dumping half a million into a gold IRA right off the bat, but still wants to take advantage of the hedge against economic uncertainty? Asking for a friend... and genuinely curious what the consensus is. Is there a hidden gem out there, or is it just the wild west?