So, I'm diving into gold for the first time - any advice for a newbie?

• •Alright, so I've been lurking here for a bit, soaking up all the wisdom.
• •Finally pulled the trigger and set up my Gold IRA.
• •I'm looking at putting around $300k into physical gold and silver, mostly gold.

Alright, so I've been lurking here for a bit, soaking up all the wisdom. Finally pulled the trigger and set up my Gold IRA. As a former tech exec here in SF, I've had my fair share of crypto and high-growth stocks, but with all the volatility lately, I decided it was time to genuinely diversify. I'm looking at putting around $300k into physical gold and silver, mostly gold. This is a big chunk for me, even with my overall portfolio size, so I'm feeling a mix of excitement and a healthy dose of "don't screw this up."

My broker has been good, walking me through the setup, and I've done a ton of research, but you guys have actual real-world experience beyond what a sales rep or a few articles can tell you. I'm talking about things you wished you knew when you first started, or mistakes you made. For example, did anyone have issues with specific custodians or storage facilities? I'm leaning towards segregated storage, even if it costs a bit more, just for the peace of mind. Is that overkill, or is it worth the extra premium?

I’m also curious about rebalancing strategies. How often do you guys review your allocation? I’m thinking quarterly, but I don’t want to be overactive either, especially with something like precious metals. This isn't a day-trading experiment for me; it's a long-term hedge. Any thoughts on maintaining the right balance without incurring excessive fees?

One thing that really helped me get started was using that Eligibility Checker tool. It cut through a lot of the initial confusion about whether my existing retirement accounts even qualified for a Gold IRA rollover. If you're on the fence about whether you can even do this, I'd highly recommend checking it out. It clarified a lot for me and made the next steps much clearer.

Seriously, any practical tips or war stories are welcome. I want to make sure I’m making the smartest moves possible with this investment.