Is it possible to setup a loader with the IPS4 product?

 

i.e. some form of animation loading component that displays while the site loads?

You can.  I've seen it on sites like IPSGuru (Kevin Carwile).  

With that said, you're basically building elevator music because your site loads too slowly.  And nobody really likes elevator music, we just put up with it because we're waiting to get to our destination.  The same with your website.  You can spend time building a fancy loading animation, or you can spend time making your website faster.