My Silver Stacking Journey and Strategy - Any Houston folks weigh in?

• •I started back in the early 2000s, right after cutting ties with the energy sector.
• •Had a good run, substantial 401k built up, probably sitting around $2-3 million when I retired.
• •I wasn’t totally sold on just letting it all sit in equities, especially with some of the market jitters we’d seen.

Been seeing a lot of talk lately about people just starting their precious metals journey, and it got me thinking about my own silver stacking strategy. I started back in the early 2000s, right after cutting ties with the energy sector. Had a good run, substantial 401k built up, probably sitting around $2-3 million when I retired. I wasn’t totally sold on just letting it all sit in equities, especially with some of the market jitters we’d seen.

My initial thought was to diversify heavily into physical gold, which I did for a significant chunk. But I also kept an eye on silver. It just seemed like a more accessible entry point, especially for accumulating larger physical quantities over time. I started buying smaller increments, mostly rounds and bars, from a couple of local dealers here in Houston. I’ve probably got a good 1,000 ounces now, maybe a bit more. It’s certainly not the same value as my gold holdings, but it still represents a solid chunk of my physical assets. What really resonated with me is the industrial demand for silver – it feels like it has a built-in floor that gold, while safer, might not always boast in the same way.

Now, my strategy has shifted a bit. With required minimum distributions coming up for me in a few years (and let me tell you, thinking about those can give you a headache!), I've been looking into how my precious metal holdings will factor into that. I've actually found this free RMD Calculator at goldirablueprint.com to be pretty helpful in visualizing what that might look like for different asset classes. It’s a good tool for planning. Are any of you using your physical silver holdings to strategize for RMDs, or is it purely a long-term hold for you?

The core of my strategy now is to hold tight to my physical silver, with a small portion still being added when there are dips. I view it as insurance, a tangible asset that isn't connected to the rollercoaster of the stock market. I’m thinking about gifting some to my grandkids eventually, as a way to introduce them to sound financial principles outside of fiat currency. What’s everyone else’s long-term plan with their silver? Are you just holding, or actively trading? Any other Houston stackers have favorite local places to buy or sell?