Rolled my old 401k to a Gold IRA – 15 years later, no regrets. Anyone else?

• •Just thinking back to when I rolled over a big chunk of my old 401k into a Gold IRA.
• •This was way back in '09, right after the market took a nosedive and I was seriously questioning traditional assets.
• •The process itself wasn't too bad.

Just thinking back to when I rolled over a big chunk of my old 401k into a Gold IRA. This was way back in '09, right after the market took a nosedive and I was seriously questioning traditional assets. I'd been in the oil patch my whole career here in Dallas, and honestly, the volatility of stocks always gnawed at me a bit, even when times were good. Had about $300k sitting in that 401k at the time, and pulling the trigger on the rollover felt like a huge decision, but I was pretty set on diversifying into something tangible.

The process itself wasn't too bad. Found a good custodian that specialized in self-directed IRAs and working with precious metals. Had to make sure it was a direct rollover, avoided any tax penalties that way. Decided to go with a mix of American Gold Eagles and some Canadian Maples for the sheer liquidity and global recognition. My main goal was wealth preservation, not necessarily day-trading gold, so those seemed like solid, reliable choices. I remember feeling a mix of relief and a tiny bit of apprehension once the funds were officially out of the stock market and into physical gold, held securely in a depository.

Fast forward to today, roughly 15 years later. That initial $300k has grown nicely, and I've even added a bit more over the years, bringing my total gold IRA holdings closer to the $800k mark. Seeing what the stock market has done, and then glancing at the gold chart, I honestly can't complain. It's provided a fantastic hedge against inflation and those inevitable market jitters. It’s a huge psychological relief knowing a significant portion of my retirement isn't just numbers on a screen, but actual physical assets. Anyone else here have a similar experience with their gold IRA rollovers? Or maybe you're thinking about it now and have questions about the process or what to look out for?