Seriously considering a 401k to Gold IRA - what was your timeline like?

• •Okay, so I'm really eyeing a 401k rollover into a Gold IRA.
• •I've got a decent chunk of change sitting in a traditional 401k right now, probably around $700k that I'm looking to diversify.
• •It's not about making a quick buck, more about preserving wealth and having a solid hedge.

Okay, so I'm really eyeing a 401k rollover into a Gold IRA. I've got a decent chunk of change sitting in a traditional 401k right now, probably around $700k that I'm looking to diversify. My logistics company here in Memphis is doing well, but I'm starting to think about succession planning in the next 5-10 years, and frankly, I'm just getting a bit antsy about having so much tied up in the market, especially with all the economic uncertainty floating around.

I've been doing my homework, even spent some time on sites like the Gold vs Stocks Comparison tool, and the long-term charts for gold are looking pretty attractive right now compared to what I'm seeing with traditional stocks. It's not about making a quick buck, more about preserving wealth and having a solid hedge. My main question for those who've done this before: what was your actual timeline from deciding to roll over your 401k to seeing the physical gold secured in your IRA? I'm talking from the first phone call until you got confirmation everything was squared away.

Did you run into any unexpected delays? How long did your old 401k provider drag their feet, if at all? I'm trying to set realistic expectations here. I've heard some horror stories about things taking months, and others where it was surprisingly quick. Was it a pretty hands-off process for you once you picked a custodian, or did you have to do a lot of chasing? Any specific tips for speeding things along, especially for a rollover of this size?

Any insights, positive or negative, would be super helpful. Just trying to gather as much real-world experience as possible before I pull the trigger. Thanks!