So I'm diving into a Gold IRA - advice on companies?

• •non-segregated storage.
• •What I'm really struggling with is narrowing down the actual custodian and precious metal dealer.
• •It feels like everyone online is either a shill or they've had one bad experience that colors everything.

Okay, so after years of playing the tech stock game, I'm finally pulling the trigger on diversifying a chunk of my retirement savings into a Gold IRA. Sold my last big batch of options and now I'm sitting on a decent amount of cash – thinking about moving roughly $200k to begin with into physical gold within an IRA structure. I'm based in SF and honestly, the market volatility here feels a little too close for comfort lately, even for someone who used to live and breathe it.

I've done a ton of preliminary research, like reading up on the tax implications (my accountant is thrilled I’m thinking long-term for once) and understanding the difference between segregated vs. non-segregated storage. What I'm really struggling with is narrowing down the actual custodian and precious metal dealer. It feels like everyone online is either a shill or they've had one bad experience that colors everything.

Anyone here have first-hand experience with specific companies for a Gold IRA? I’m looking for reliability, transparency on fees, and ideally a good selection of IRA-approved metals. I've seen names like Augusta Precious Metals, Goldco, Birch Gold Group thrown around a lot. Are there any hidden gems or ones to absolutely avoid? What were your red flags or green lights during the process? Any tips on what kind of questions to ask their reps to really get to the bottom of things? Would love to hear some real-world perspectives on this.