Inherited IRA to Gold - What are my options here?

• •Okay, so this is a bit of a new one for me and I'm hoping some of you seasoned investors might have some insights.
• •My aunt passed away recently, and she'd named me as the beneficiary on her traditional IRA.
• •It's a pretty substantial amount, sitting around $380k right now, and honestly, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options, or lack thereof.

Okay, so this is a bit of a new one for me and I'm hoping some of you seasoned investors might have some insights. My aunt passed away recently, and she'd named me as the beneficiary on her traditional IRA. It's a pretty substantial amount, sitting around $380k right now, and honestly, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options, or lack thereof. My own portfolio is already quite diversified, but I've been heavily invested in a Gold IRA for the last few years, and it's been a real cornerstone of my financial security since I retired from the Navy. I'm down here in San Diego, and with all the economic uncertainty, that precious metals cushion really makes me sleep better at night.

My initial thought, naturally, was to convert this inherited IRA into physical gold, just like I did with a good chunk of my own retirement savings. I mean, it's a no-brainer for me; I trust gold. The problem is, everything I'm reading suggests that an inherited IRA doesn't get the same favorable direct rollover treatment as a traditional IRA you own yourself. It seems like the rules are a lot stricter, especially with that 10-year distribution rule, which kinda throws a wrench in my plans for holding this long-term in an asset I truly believe in.

Has anyone here dealt with an inherited IRA that they wanted to move into a Gold IRA? Are there any workarounds, or am I just stuck taking distributions and then potentially paying taxes before I can even consider buying gold with those funds? I'm trying to avoid a huge tax hit, obviously, and preserve as much of this inheritance as possible. I want to honor my aunt's legacy by securing this money wisely, and for me, that means precious metals.

I feel like I'm hitting a wall here, and it's frustrating. Is there a specific type of custodian that specializes in these kinds of inherited IRA situations with alternative assets? Or am I looking at this all wrong? Any advice or real-world experiences would be massively appreciated. I'm really trying to maximize this for the long haul, especially with what's going on in the world right now.