Pulling the trigger on a Gold IRA - First timer needs advice

• •Alright, so I’m finally pulling the trigger on getting some physical gold into an IRA.
• •I’m looking to allocate about $100k-$150k initially, maybe more down the line, out of my ~$400k total portfolio.
• •I’ve been doing my homework, mostly online, reading up on different custodians and dealers.

Alright, so I’m finally pulling the trigger on getting some physical gold into an IRA. Been running a construction company here in Chicago for a decade now, and after watching the market do its thing, I’m just more and more convinced that tangible assets are the way to go. Got a good chunk of my pension wrapped up in the usual stocks and bonds, but with all the volatility lately, it just feels like the smart move to diversify with something real. I’m looking to allocate about $100k-$150k initially, maybe more down the line, out of my ~$400k total portfolio.

I’ve been doing my homework, mostly online, reading up on different custodians and dealers. It’s overwhelming, to be honest. Everyone's got great reviews on their own site, but then you dig a little deeper, and there’s always something. My main concern is not getting hosed on fees or finding out a few years down the road that I’m stuck with some obscure coin that no one wants. I’m thinking mostly gold bullion, maybe some silver just to mix it up. Does anyone have experience with specific companies that were genuinely transparent with their costs for storage and transactions?

Also, the whole process of transferring funds and getting the actual metal into storage – how smooth was that for you generally? Are there any common pitfalls I should be looking out for? I’m used to dealing with tangible things, concrete and steel, not some abstract digital asset that I can’t touch. That’s why gold appeals, but the administrative side of an IRA still feels a bit foreign. Any warnings about pushy sales tactics or things that sound too good to be true?

Appreciate any real-world advice from folks who’ve actually gone through this. I’m trying to set this up right the first time, so any insights into what worked well for you, or what you’d do differently, would be huge. My gut tells me this is the right move, just need to navigate the actual execution.