Roth vs. Traditional Gold IRA - My Experience & Asking

• •I've been steadily building my gold IRA for a few years now, sitting at about $170k invested , mostly in physical gold coins.
• •I'm a healthcare administrator here in Tampa, so I've got a pretty stable income, and I'm always looking for ways to optimize my retirement savings.
• •When I first set up my Gold IRA, I went with a Traditional IRA, mainly because the immediate tax deduction was super appealing at the time.

I've been steadily building my gold IRA for a few years now, sitting at about $170k invested, mostly in physical gold coins. I'm a healthcare administrator here in Tampa, so I've got a pretty stable income, and I'm always looking for ways to optimize my retirement savings. When I first set up my Gold IRA, I went with a Traditional IRA, mainly because the immediate tax deduction was super appealing at the time. My income was a bit higher, and it just made sense to lower that taxable income right away.

Now, I'm starting to wonder if I made the right call and if a Roth conversion for some of it might be smart. My thinking is, with gold having performed well over the long term, and the general uncertainty about future tax rates, having some of that growth be tax-free in retirement could be a huge benefit. Paying the taxes now on a portion of my current holdings, especially if I can do it in a year where I project a slightly lower income, seems like a potentially savvy move. I'm not planning on touching this money for at least another 15-20 years.

Has anyone here done a Roth conversion with their Gold IRA? What were your experiences like? Were there any hidden fees or complexities specific to the precious metal aspect that I should be aware of beyond the usual conversion process? I've heard some horror stories about custodian fees for conversions, and I want to make sure I'm not stepping into a minefield. Also, with the way things are going economically, do you think future tax rates are more likely to be higher or lower? That's really the core of my dilemma.

I'd love to hear some diverse perspectives. It's a big decision, and while I've done my research, personal anecdotes and insights from others who've actually navigated this are invaluable. Thanks in advance for any advice or shared experiences!