Self-directed vs. traditional custodian for my Silver IRA - thoughts on the added complexity?

• •Currently, everything's through a traditional custodian – pretty straightforward, set it and forget it.
• •I’ve primarily got about 150k tied up in silver in there, and the rest of my portfolio, roughly 700k, is in more conventional investments.
• •I’m a lawyer here in Philly, so I’m all about understanding the fine print and potential risks.

I’ve been thinking more and more about my Silver IRA as part of my overall wealth preservation strategy, especially with all the economic uncertainty swirling around these days. Currently, everything's through a traditional custodian – pretty straightforward, set it and forget it. I’ve primarily got about 150k tied up in silver in there, and the rest of my portfolio, roughly 700k, is in more conventional investments. I’m a lawyer here in Philly, so I’m all about understanding the fine print and potential risks.

Lately, I’ve been reading some compelling arguments for moving my silver holdings into a self-directed IRA. The idea of having direct control over specific silver rounds and bars, and potentially even storing them with a different depository in the future if I chose, is appealing. It feels like a more robust way to protect those assets, especially in a truly worst-case scenario. However, the thought of managing that additional layer of complexity, the record-keeping, and the due diligence on depositories and trustees is a bit daunting. My current setup is so hands-off, and frankly, my legal practice keeps me busy enough as it is.

For those of you with significant precious metals in self-directed IRAs, what’s been your experience with the administrative burden? Is it truly as much of a headache as it seems, or once you get the process established, does it smooth out? I'm specifically interested in thoughts on silver – does the tracking and management differ significantly from gold? Are there any hidden fees or compliance pitfalls I should be particularly aware of as someone considering this move? I’m trying to weigh the peace of mind and direct control against the practical realities of more active management.

My primary goal is capital preservation, not speculation, so I'm really looking for the most secure and compliant long-term solution. Is the added complexity of a self-directed IRA for silver truly worth the extra effort for someone in my position?