Trying to figure out the best gold IRA for a "smaller" portfolio

• •My issue is, a lot of the info out there seems geared towards folks dropping half a million, and that's just not me right now.
• •I'm looking to roll over maybe $75k from an old 401k into a Gold IRA.
• •I'm a farmer out here in Fresno, so I get the value of real assets, especially with how volatile the markets have been lately.

Okay, so I've been dabbling in precious metals for a while, mainly physical, but I'm really eyeing a Gold IRA to diversify some of my retirement savings. My issue is, a lot of the info out there seems geared towards folks dropping half a million, and that's just not me right now. I'm looking to roll over maybe $75k from an old 401k into a Gold IRA. I'm a farmer out here in Fresno, so I get the value of real assets, especially with how volatile the markets have been lately. The idea of having a tangible hedge against inflation just feels right.

I'm finding that some companies have really high minimums or a lot of hidden fees that could really eat into a portfolio my size. I want to make sure I'm not getting hosed on set-up costs or annual maintenance. I'm also pretty conservative, so I'm not looking for anything too fancy or exotic – just straightforward gold and maybe a little silver. I've been watching the stock market with one eye and the price of silver with the other, especially after checking out that Silver vs Stocks tool – pretty eye-opening to see how they stack up over the last 10 years.

So, for those of you who started with a similar amount, or have experience with companies that are good for "smaller" investors, who did you go with? Were there any that stood out for having reasonable fees and solid customer service? I prefer to talk to an actual human, not just chatbots. Any red flags I should look out for specifically when only moving, say, under $100k? Appreciate any insights, it's a big decision for my retirement.