Returning player long load time

Been away from Last Epoch for several months. My #1 complaint about the game when it launched is that it took FOREVER to load. When I click the game in steam I stare at my desk top for 5 minutes on average (sometimes 10) before I see the Last Epoch Eleventh Hour Games screen. That screen also takes several minutes. When the game launched I remember seeing posts complaining about this online with several work arounds (none of them worked for me).

Is this really still a thing? Is there a solution someone can point me to?