GCG Advisory Partners Exceeds 5 Billion in AUM and Builds Out Ultra-High-Net-Worth and Family Office with Former Wells Fargo FiNet Advisor Team
Butch Safyurtlu, JD, Joins as Equity and Operating Partner with an Approximately $300 Million AUM National Practice on GCG's Pax Mentis Advisors Platform
Partnership Enhances the Firm's Client Footprint in California While Anchoring the Launch of GCG's Miami Office
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GCG Advisory Partners ("GCG") today announced a strategic partnership with Butch Safyurtlu, JD, formerly of Safyurtlu Wealth Management, a Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet) practice. This partnership moves Safyurtlu's practice from the independent broker-dealer channel to GCG's fully independent RIA through the firm's Monetize and Grow platform, helping bring GCG's assets under management to more than $5 billion while establishing a dedicated ultra-high-net-worth and family office capability.
Safyurtlu joins as an equity and operating partner and Managing Director of Pax Mentis, bringing approximately $300 million in assets under management and a nationwide client base. Latin for "peace of mind," Pax Mentis is an established GCG-owned brand for our investment management models and with this partnership being established as a registered investment advisor, GCG extends the familiar name into full-service private wealth.
A Practice Built Around a Single Relationship
- The background. Safyurtlu has served high-net-worth families since 2000. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he spent a decade and rose to Senior Vice President, then spent six years as a Managing Director at UBS before founding his own practice in 2016. He holds a J.D. from Chapman University School of Law and a B.A. in Economics from UC Irvine.
- The model. The practice operates as the client's first call on every financial decision — investments, tax, estate, risk, and business advisory — convening the client's existing CPAs, attorneys, and specialists rather than handing clients off to them.
- The clients. Primarily ultra-high-net-worth families and business owners. Elena Safyurtlu joins Pax Mentis as an Associate Advisor.
The Path Forward at GCG
- A capability built from a working practice. GCG's ultra-high-net-worth offering will be modeled on one already proven with clients, then made available to advisors across the platform.
- Miami. The new office places that capability alongside one of the fastest-growing concentrations of ultra-high-net-worth families and business owners in the country.
- Monetize and Grow. GCG's platform gives entrepreneurial advisors liquidity and succession planning alongside infrastructure, technology, and operational support, while they retain ownership in what they continue to build. Advisors managing $150 million or more who are exploring partnered independence can start a conversation at Contact Us — GCG Advisory Partners.
Joel Burris, CEO & Managing Partner, GCG Advisory Partners, stated:
"Most firms build a family office capability by hiring a consultant and writing a brochure. We would rather build it around someone who already does the work. Butch has spent 25 years earning the right to be the first call his clients make, and that is not something you can manufacture. His background at Goldman and UBS and his legal training put him in a position very few advisors occupy. Our job is to extend what he has built and make it available across our platform. We are excited to welcome Butch as an equity partner and look forward to the impact he will have as we continue to grow and strengthen our firm."
Butch Safyurtlu, JD, Managing Director, Pax Mentis and Equity Operating Partner, GCG Advisory Partners, stated:
"I looked closely at what independence actually meant for my clients, not just for my business. The answer to both was ownership. It is what lets us build our practice around the families we serve, and GCG offered that from day one rather than someday. With GCG behind us, there is more capability behind every relationship we hold, and that is the part we are most excited about."
Pax Mentis will operate as a GCG Advisory Partners firm, with Safyurtlu continuing to lead the practice and client relationships. Terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
About GCG Advisory Partners
GCG Advisory Partners, LLC, focused on legacy, succession, and M&A in the hybrid and independent RIA space, is the parent company of financial services businesses. In 2025, GCG announced a recapitalization and strategic investment from BharCap Partners. GCG provides capital, acquisition/succession strategies, and a robust technology platform across office locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.gcgap.com.
About Pax Mentis
Pax Mentis is a GCG Advisory Partners firm and registered investment advisor serving ultra-high-net-worth families and business owners nationwide. Led by Managing Director and Partner Butch Safyurtlu, JD, and supported by Associate Advisor, Elena Safyurtlu, the firm coordinates planning, investments, estate, tax, and risk under a single fiduciary relationship. For more information, visit www.paxmentisadvisors.com.
Media Contact:
Nicole Caputo
704-372-4491
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SOURCE GCG Advisory Partners
