My 401k to Gold IRA transfer - longer than I thought, anyone else?

• •I'm based here in Chicago, run my own construction company, so I'm used to things getting done efficiently, but this was a whole different animal.
• •I'm talking about a decent sum, around $350k that I wanted to get into something tangible.
• •With all the instability lately, I just feel a lot better having some of my retirement in physical assets, not just numbers on a screen.

Just went through the whole rigamarole of rolling over a chunk of my old 401k into a Gold IRA, and man, it was a bit more drawn out than I’d anticipated. I'm based here in Chicago, run my own construction company, so I'm used to things getting done efficiently, but this was a whole different animal. I'm talking about a decent sum, around $350k that I wanted to get into something tangible. With all the instability lately, I just feel a lot better having some of my retirement in physical assets, not just numbers on a screen.

From the moment I initiated the transfer with my old 401k provider to when the gold actually hit the depository, it felt like forever. It wasn't weeks, but it certainly took more than the "pennies to the penny" instant transfer most people think about with digital money. I think the biggest holdup was honestly getting the old 401k administrator to cut the check and send it. They really drag their feet, probably hoping you just leave the money there. Once the funds landed with the Gold IRA custodian, the actual purchase and shipping to the vault seemed to go pretty smoothly. But that initial part, wow.

Anyone else experience this? What was your timeline like for a direct rollover? Did you also hit a snag with the old plan administrator? It makes me wonder if there's anything I could have done to speed it up. For anyone thinking about doing this, seriously, don't underestimate the time it can take. It’s not just an instant click a button transfer. Also, if you're just starting to look into this, I found the Gold IRA Quiz really helpful for understanding the basics before I even talked to a custodian. It helps you figure out what's what.

Ultimately, I'm glad it's done. Having that peace of mind is worth the wait, especially when you've put blood, sweat, and tears into building your wealth. But I'm curious what other people's experiences were like with the timeline. Did I just get a slow administrator, or is this the norm?