My experience with Gold IRA custodians - any recommendations for good customer service lately?

• •I've been in the gold game for over 20 years, pretty much since the tail end of my career at Ford.
• •Now, with a portfolio hovering somewhere between $500k-$1M, I’ve had my share of dealings with various custodians.
• •Some have been great, others...not so much.

I've been in the gold game for over 20 years, pretty much since the tail end of my career at Ford. Most of that time, my physical gold was tucked away securely, but when the market started looking shaky around 2008, I moved a good chunk into a Gold IRA. Now, with a portfolio hovering somewhere between $500k-$1M, I’ve had my share of dealings with various custodians. Some have been great, others...not so much. My current one, I won't name names, but their customer service has definitely gone downhill since the pandemic. What used to be a quick call now feels like an interrogation just to get a simple question answered, and I’m tired of being bounced around.

I’m located here in the Detroit area, and while I don't necessarily need a local custodian, sometimes it's nice to know they exist. Mostly, I'm looking for reliability and responsiveness. I know we’re dealing with precious metals here, so some level of security protocol is expected, but it shouldn't feel like pulling teeth every time I want to discuss my holdings or make a move. I’m an old dog, and I appreciate straightforward communication and people who actually seem to care about their clients, not just the next commission.

So, here’s my question for all you other seasoned investors out there: have you had exceptionally good experiences with any Gold IRA custodians recently? I'm talking about places that actually answer the phone, have knowledgeable staff, and don’t make you jump through a hundred hoops for basic information. I’m thinking about making a switch and would really appreciate some genuine recommendations from people who have actually dealt with these companies. What should I be looking for? Any horror stories to avoid from specific companies?