Gold IRA minimums - what was everyone else seeing?

• •I'm curious what everyone else experienced when they first got started or if you've recently looked into it.
• •One thing that’s on my mind more these days is RMDs.
• •I'm not quite there yet, but it’s definitely coming into view.

Diving into the Gold IRA space a few years back, I remember doing a ton of research on minimum investment requirements and it felt like a moving target. I'm curious what everyone else experienced when they first got started or if you've recently looked into it. I ended up with Augusta Precious Metals – they had a $50k minimum at the time, which was a good fit for me since I was looking to roll over a chunk of an old 401k that was close to $350k. Now, I've got a total portfolio probably sitting between 600-700k with quite a bit in physical gold and silver, so that initial chunk has grown nicely.

My logistics business here in Memphis is doing well, and I’m starting to think about succession planning for my kids, so I'm looking at everything with a really long-term lens. One thing that’s on my mind more these days is RMDs. I'm not quite there yet, but it’s definitely coming into view. I stumbled across this RMD Calculator at Gold IRA Blueprint the other day and thought it was pretty handy for getting a rough idea of what to expect down the line. Has anyone else given that a whirl?

I know some companies market lower minimums, but I always felt like you ended up paying for it elsewhere – either in higher fees or just less personalized service. For me, the peace of mind knowing I was with a reputable dealer was worth meeting that higher initial threshold. Did anyone go with a company that had a much lower minimum, and how did that work out for you? Any hidden fees or pleasant surprises?

Just trying to get a feel for what the common experience is out there now. Always good to hear other perspectives from people putting their money into precious metals rather than just what the companies are advertising.