Advisors

Advisors

At Linden Financial Group, building long-term relationships with clients is our priority. 

Together, we carefully chart a course to pursue financial success. You provide the vision and we provide the focus. 

You deserve the confidence that comes from knowing that your financial life is aligned with your values and hopes for the future.

You deserve a financial professional who...

  • Makes your questions, concerns, and goals a priority
  • Works for and with you, not around you
  • Invests in accordance with your plan and risk tolerance
  • Provides an investment portfolio free of hidden costs
  • Actively manages and monitors your investments and meets with you regularly
  • Stays current on financial markets, investments, and financial planning issues

To learn more about our team members, click on the individual photos below.

Charlene K. Dolan, CFP® AIF®

Financial Planner & Investment Adviser

Charlene is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designee with 25 years of experience in financial services. An Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Charlene holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations and is a licensed life and health insurance agent.  Charlene founded Linden Financial group (formerly Dolan Financial Services) in 2007.  

At Linden Financial Group, Advisors work with you to identify meaningful and realistic goals for the future while considering potential risks and challenges. Through in-depth discussions, we establish the framework for a customized financial strategy. Investment management is a critical component of financial planning.  We embrace this responsibility with a passion for research and analysis. It is, however, the relationships with clients that provide meaning and a sense of purpose. 

"Money is a very personal topic—perhaps the most private. We have the privilege of helping people through      some of the best times of their lives—a graduation, wedding, or home purchase or arrival of a baby or grandchild.  We also have the privilege of helping people through some of the most difficult times—loss of a job, divorce, disability, coping with the needs of aging parents, or loss of a loved one. Financial concerns impact our lives in so many ways. Our goal is to provide perspective in situations where emotions are an overriding force."

As an undergraduate, Charlene studied health and the relationship between personal well-being, economic status, family support, societal attitudes, and access to community services. While working in the health care field, Charlene focused on public policy, regional health planning, and long-term care management. She transitioned to financial services with the hope of making a difference—one person or family at a time. 

Charlene is a member of the Financial Planning Association and presents financial workshops as a volunteer with the Jeanne Geiger Crisis CenterIn 2013, the YWCA Greater Newburyport honored her as a Community Champion for her efforts to empower women and families through financial education. 

Charlene is the founder of the Veterans Legacy Initiative, a local nonprofit providing social and wellness programming for WWII veterans. In 2015, Charlene received the "Book of Golden Deeds" award from the Exchange Club of Greater Newburyport for her work with veterans.  Charlene continues her family's history of support for Our Neighbors Table. She is forever grateful to her parents for leading by their example. Their home was open to anyone who needed a warm meal, place to sleep, a shoulder to lean on or another perspective. 

Charlene and her husband, John, live in Amesbury and have two adult children.  Charlene enjoys spending time with family and friends and attending theater and musical performances.  She also loves to bake and is known for baking in large quantities!

Danielle S. Holmes, CRPC®, AIF®

Financial Planner & Investment Adviser

Danielle joined Linden Financial Group (formerly Dolan Financial Services) in 2010, returning to financial services after taking a career break to raise her four young sons. Through her own experience, Danielle is well aware of the personal and financial challenges and rewards of being an "at-home" mom. She also understands the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career when family/work balance is a priority.

Danielle's career in the securities industry began in Pasadena, California, at Prudential Securities. While in California, she also worked at Smith Barney as a licensed securities assistant. Upon returning to Massachusetts, she was employed with Cantella & Co., Inc., a clearing firm and broker/dealer in Boston, serving as a licensing and compliance officer. Due to industry regulations, Danielle was unable to maintain her securities registrations during her career break. To her credit, Danielle has again secured these licenses and has achieved so much more since joining Linden financial Group. 

Danielle is an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network® and holds the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations. She is a licensed life and health insurance agent handling life, disability, and long-term care insurance. She has also earned the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) designation through the College of Financial Planning  (CFFP).

"Individuals who hold the CRPC® designation have completed a course of study encompassing pre- and post-retirement needs, asset management, estate planning, and the entire retirement planning process using models and techniques from real client situations." — CFFP

Danielle-Family
 

Danielle graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in behavioral finance. Recognizing the relationship between money, values, and emotions, Danielle is committed to understanding and honoring the unique perspective and frame of reference each client brings to the financial planning discussion.

Danielle and her husband enjoy a busy life with their four sons, and they both have a long history of involvement in the community. Danielle is former president of the YWCA Greater Newburyport. She is a member of the Board of Directors for ROOF Over Head Collaborative, an organization providing supportive housing to families in need in the Greater Newburyport Area.  She is also a member of the Amesbury High School Council and has served as committee chair of Pack 4 Cub Scouts, Amesbury Elementary PTA, and the Amesbury Boosters. 

Danielle is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce, the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce.

John R. MacDonald, FPQP®, AIF®

Client Service Manager & Financial Planner

John is the "voice" of Linden Financial Group (formerly Dolan Financial Services) and the initial point of contact for clients and prospective clients. He oversees scheduling and preparation for initial consultations and client review meetings.  John is proactive and responsive. Professional and personable, John is committed to being efficient and effective. His client service philosophy is based upon his own life experiences as "the client." His goal is to replicate only the best of these experiences for our clients. While often handling several tasks at a time, rest assured, your question will take priority when you call or stop by.

Committed to being a resource for our clients, John is embracing every opportunity to expand and strengthen his knowledge base. Early in 2015, he earned the Financial Planning Qualified Professional(FPQP®) designation through the College for Financial Planning (CFFP). 

John-MacDonald
 

"Individuals who hold the FPQP® designation have completed a course of study encompassing the financial planning process, the five disciplines of financial planning and general financial planning concepts, terminology and product categories. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations." —CFFP

John transitioned to the role of financial planner in 2018.  He is also a life insurance agent and holds FINRA Series 7 (general securities representative) and Series 65 (uniform investment adviser law examination) securities registrations.

A native of Amesbury, John resides in Sandown, New Hampshire, with his wife, Laura, and their dog, Devin. In his free time, John enjoys being with family and friends, riding motorcycles, and playing disc golf and ice hockey.