Rolled over a 401k to Gold IRA - my 3-week timeline and questions for you all

• •Just wrapped up a substantial 401k to Gold IRA rollover, and thought I'd share my timeline for anyone else considering it.
• •For context, I retired from the Navy as an Admiral a few years back, so discipline and planning are ingrained in me.
• •I've been eyeing diversification away from the usual paper assets for a while, especially with all the economic uncertainty we've seen.

Just wrapped up a substantial 401k to Gold IRA rollover, and thought I'd share my timeline for anyone else considering it. For context, I retired from the Navy as an Admiral a few years back, so discipline and planning are ingrained in me. I've been eyeing diversification away from the usual paper assets for a while, especially with all the economic uncertainty we've seen. My portfolio is in the low seven figures, and felt it was time to allocate a chunk to physical precious metals.

The whole process took just under three weeks from my initial contact with the Gold IRA provider to the physical metals being secured in the depository. I initiated the direct rollover request from my old 401k administrator (who, bless their hearts, were about as nimble as a battleship in a bathtub) on February 1st. Funding hit the new Gold IRA account by February 15th, and I had final confirmation of the metal purchase and segregation at the Delaware depository by February 21st. I was pretty impressed with how smoothly the Gold IRA provider handled their end once the funds were actually released. The most frustrating part, by far, was dealing with my old 401k provider. Anyone else experience that glacial pace?

I went with a mix of American Gold Eagles and some Gold Buffalos, aiming for recognizable and liquid assets. I’m thinking long-term here, obviously – this isn't a speculative play for me. More about wealth preservation and genuine diversification. I'm based in Virginia Beach, and while I looked at local options, going with a specialized Gold IRA company with a reputable depository felt like the most secure route. Have any of you found a need to visit your depository or audit your holdings in person? I’m curious about the practicalities of that for others.

One thing I found incredibly helpful in the initial stages was taking an online quiz to understand the mechanics better. I stumbled upon this Gold IRA Quiz initially, and it really helped clarify some of the jargon and different options. It helped me frame the right questions when I was evaluating providers. What resources did you all find most valuable when you were first looking into a Gold IRA? Always looking to learn from fellow investors.