Self-Directed Gold IRA - Worth the hassle for small portfolios?

• •Okay, so I'm pretty new to this whole retirement game, just turned 28 and trying to be smart about my future.
• •I live in Charleston, SC, and I've been looking into a Gold IRA because, frankly, the stock market volatility makes me a little nervous.
• •I've got about $15k saved up to move into it, so definitely on the smaller side compared to some of the portfolios I see here.

Okay, so I'm pretty new to this whole retirement game, just turned 28 and trying to be smart about my future. I live in Charleston, SC, and I've been looking into a Gold IRA because, frankly, the stock market volatility makes me a little nervous. I've got about $15k saved up to move into it, so definitely on the smaller side compared to some of the portfolios I see here.

My big question is about the self-directed IRA vs. using a traditional custodian to handle everything. I've been reading up on the differences, and it sounds like with a self-directed option, I get way more control over exactly which gold coins I'm buying (like specific American Gold Eagles or Canadian Maples – I'm leaning heavily towards coins over bars for liquidity down the road). But then there's all the extra hoops: finding an approved depository myself, managing the paperwork, making sure everything is IRS compliant. My current 401k is with Fidelity, and they make it so easy, but they don't do physical gold, obviously.

Is that level of control really worth the additional effort and potential for error when my portfolio is still relatively small? I'm talking under $50k for the foreseeable future. Are there self-directed options that aren't too hands-on, or am I better off just finding a trusted custodian who offers a limited selection but handles all the logistics? I want diversification and protection, but not at the cost of constant stress over compliance. Any small portfolio investors out there who went the self-directed route, or regretted it?

I'm trying to decide if the slightly higher fees or less granular control of a full-service custodian are a fair trade-off for simplicity right now. Eventually, if this grows to six figures, I can see the appeal of being truly self-directed, but for $15k, I'm just not sure. What are your experiences, especially those of you with smaller gold IRA balances?