SD-IRA vs. Traditional Custodian for Silver Coins - My Experience & Questions

• •I've been going nuts trying to figure out the best custodian route for rolling over a good chunk of my old 401k into a Gold/Silver IRA.
• •Background: I'm in SF, recently left a pretty demanding tech exec gig, and decided it's high time to properly diversify.
• •Initially, I just went with what my financial advisor suggested: a traditional custodian like Equity Trust or Kingdom Trust.

I've been going nuts trying to figure out the best custodian route for rolling over a good chunk of my old 401k into a Gold/Silver IRA. Background: I'm in SF, recently left a pretty demanding tech exec gig, and decided it's high time to properly diversify. My portfolio is somewhere in the $350k range right now, and I'm looking to put about 15-20% of that into physical precious metals, primarily silver coins.

Initially, I just went with what my financial advisor suggested: a traditional custodian like Equity Trust or Kingdom Trust. It seemed straightforward enough – they handle all the compliance, warehousing, etc. But the fees stack up, and frankly, I feel a bit disconnected from my own assets. I mean, sure, I get statements, but the thought of ever laying eyes on my actual silver Eagles or Maples feels like a pipe dream. It’s essentially a hands-off, trust-them-completely kind of deal, which makes me a little uneasy given the current economic climate.

Lately, I've been doing a deep dive into self-directed IRAs where you essentially act as your own custodian, or at least have a lot more direct control. The idea of setting up an LLC, funding it, and then having the LLC purchase and store the metals from an approved depository is really appealing. It feels more transparent and potentially more cost-effective in the long run, especially with the higher fees typical for precious metals. However, the compliance and administrative burden seems significantly higher. I'm trying to weigh that against the peace of mind of more direct control.

Has anyone here gone the self-directed route for silver coins? What were the biggest hurdles? Specifically, did you find the setup process for the LLC and managing the compliance worth the effort? Or am I overthinking it, and the traditional custodian model is just the path of least resistance for a reason? Any war stories or success stories would be greatly appreciated – trying to make an informed decision before I pull the trigger on these rollovers!