Savannah business owner - first-time Gold IRA buyer advice needed

• •Thinking about finally pulling the trigger on a Gold IRA and could really use some insights from folks who've already gone down this road.
• •Honestly, the sheer volume of information (and conflicting reviews) is a bit overwhelming.
• •For those of you who’ve set up a Gold IRA, what were the key factors that made you choose your particular provider?

Thinking about finally pulling the trigger on a Gold IRA and could really use some insights from folks who've already gone down this road. I've been running my tourism business here in Savannah for over 15 years now, seen a few ups and downs, and frankly, the current economic climate has me a little antsy about keeping all my eggs in the traditional basket. My current portfolio is sitting around the $180k mark, mostly in Vanguard index funds, and while they've done well, the thought of diversifying into something tangible like precious metals is becoming increasingly appealing.

I've been looking at a few different custodians and dealers – Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, Goldco, Patriot Gold Group, APMEX – the usual suspects. Honestly, the sheer volume of information (and conflicting reviews) is a bit overwhelming. For those of you who’ve set up a Gold IRA, what were the key factors that made you choose your particular provider? Were there any red flags you encountered or fees that snuck up on you? I'm particularly interested in hearing about the transfer process; my concern is making sure it's as smooth and painless as possible from my existing IRA.

My main goal here is wealth preservation and a hedge against inflation, not necessarily chasing huge gains. I'm looking for a solid, reputable company that won't try to upsell me on every call and has transparent pricing. I'm aiming to allocate roughly 10-15% of my portfolio to gold, so we're talking about a $20k-$27k initial investment. Are there any specific types of gold coins or bars that are generally more recommended for an IRA, or does it mainly come down to personal preference once it meets IRS standards?

Any advice on what to look out for, questions to ask, or even who to avoid would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!