Gold IRA questions from a Jax local - inflation hitting hard

• •Anyone else in the Jacksonville area feeling this inflation pressure on their savings?
• •I've got about $180k in my retirement portfolio, mostly in a traditional 401k, but I’ve been really thinking hard about diversifying into a Gold IRA.
• •As a military contractor, security and stability are huge for me, and right now the stock market feels a bit too...

Anyone else in the Jacksonville area feeling this inflation pressure on their savings? I've got about $180k in my retirement portfolio, mostly in a traditional 401k, but I’ve been really thinking hard about diversifying into a Gold IRA. As a military contractor, security and stability are huge for me, and right now the stock market feels a bit too... bouncy for my comfort, especially with talks of more quantitative easing. Those interest rate hikes didn't seem to do much, and now it feels like we're just kicking the can down the road.

I started looking into Gold IRAs a few months back, and the idea of having a tangible asset that isn't directly tied to corporate performance or government spending just makes a lot of sense from a safety perspective. I stumbled across this tool called the Gold vs Stocks Comparison, and it really opened my eyes to how gold has performed, especially over the last 10 years, compared to the S&P. It's not about getting rich overnight, but more about preserving what I've worked hard for.

My big question is for those who've already made the leap: what are the real-world considerations I should be looking at when rolling over part of my 401k into a Gold IRA? I’m talking about fees, storage, reputable custodians – all the nitty-gritty stuff. I'm aiming to put maybe 10-15% of my portfolio into physical gold, just as an inflation hedge and to add some ballast. Are there any specific pitfalls I should be aware of, beyond the usual "do your due diligence" advice?

Also, any recommendations for local (Florida-based, ideally) companies or consultants who specialize in Gold IRAs and understand the process inside and out? I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience with this, especially if you're in a similar boat financially or professionally. Thanks in advance for any insights!