Just finished my 401k to Gold IRA rollover – feeling good, curious about others' RMDs

• •Finally got all the paperwork sorted and the funds transferred from my old tech company 401k into my new Gold IRA.
• •Honestly, after everything I’d read online, I was bracing for a much bigger headache.
• •It wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but it definitely wasn't the bureaucratic nightmare I’d envisioned.

Finally got all the paperwork sorted and the funds transferred from my old tech company 401k into my new Gold IRA. Honestly, after everything I’d read online, I was bracing for a much bigger headache. It wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but it definitely wasn't the bureaucratic nightmare I’d envisioned. The total amount I moved was right around $2.8 million, which felt pretty high stakes, so I was probably a bit overly cautious during the whole process. I decided to diversify beyond just physical gold, throwing quite a chunk into silver and platinum too, just for good measure. Living here in Dublin, OH, it’s nice to know a good portion of my retirement is now in something tangible, especially with all the market volatility lately. Felt like a smart move after cashing out of the tech startup a few years back.

My biggest motivation for the rollover was pretty simple: stability. After years of riding the tech waves, the idea of having a significant chunk of my retirement in something that historically holds its value, even when everything else is going sideways, was incredibly appealing. Gold has always felt like the ultimate hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Plus, the thought of central banks just printing money makes me feel a lot better about holding physical assets rather than purely paper ones. It’s a different kind of peace of mind than I got from watching my stock portfolio fluctuate daily.

Now that the heavy lifting of the rollover is done, I'm starting to think ahead to those Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) down the line. I know it sounds far off, but I like to plan. Has anyone here started taking theirs from a Gold IRA? What was that process like for you? I’ve been messing around with this RMD Calculator to get a rough idea, and it’s actually pretty handy for seeing potential numbers. It's called Gold IRA Blueprint's RMD Calculator. Just wondering if anyone has any personal experiences or tips for managing those distributions from physical assets. Should I be thinking about liquidating a portion gradually as I get closer, or just as a lump sum distribution when the time comes?

I’m feeling pretty good about this decision overall. It feels like a solid, long-term play. But it's always good to hear from others who have been through it or are further down the road. Any thoughts on managing RMDs specifically from a precious metals IRA would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!