Gold IRAs for Smaller Portfolios? Is it worth it for less than $100k?

• •As an attorney here in Philly, I spend a lot of time thinking about risk and hedging against it.
• •I went with Augusta Precious Metals back then, and they've been solid, great customer service, very transparent.
• •But for someone with, say, $25,000 or $50,000 to invest , do those fees eat up too much of the potential gains or protection?

Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter lately on different subreddits about Gold IRAs, and it seems like most of the discussion is centered around people with massive portfolios, like 7-figure numbers. I’ve certainly got a good chunk invested (around $800k in various accounts, my Gold IRA holds about $150k of that), and I'm a big believer in wealth preservation, especially with the way things are going. As an attorney here in Philly, I spend a lot of time thinking about risk and hedging against it.

My question is, for someone just starting out or looking to diversify with a smaller dedicated amount – say, under $100k for their precious metals portion – is a Gold IRA still the best route? I mean, when I set mine up a few years back, I had a much larger chunk to roll over, and frankly, the fees (setup, storage, annual maintenance) felt pretty negligible proportional to the amount. I went with Augusta Precious Metals back then, and they've been solid, great customer service, very transparent. But for someone with, say, $25,000 or $50,000 to invest, do those fees eat up too much of the potential gains or protection?

Are there companies that are particularly good for these "smaller" investors? I keep hearing about minimums, and even though my initial investment was significant, I’m wondering if the industry has evolved to be more accessible. My primary goal, and I'd guess theirs too, is wealth preservation against inflation and market volatility, not necessarily trying to get rich quick off gold price swings. What unique challenges or advantages do smaller investors face when setting up a Gold IRA compared to someone like me with a larger, established account?

I’m thinking about suggesting this to a younger colleague at my firm who's just starting to get serious about their long-term financial planning, and I want to make sure I’m giving them the best guidance. Any insights on companies that are truly competitive and transparent for these lower entry points would be greatly appreciated. Or, conversely, if it's just not practical for anything less than six figures, that's good to know too!