Every week, interesting personalities from the world of finance and beyond share their personal preferences in our section Backstage.

What do you do first in the morning?

During the week, I get up at 5:15 a.m., drink some water, and row for 20 minutes on my rowing machine. It’s a great way to start the day. On weekends, I sleep a bit longer.

What is the best thing about your job?

Four things: Working for a great company like Vanguard, collaborating with a fantastic team, staying in close contact with clients, and helping to grow our Swiss business through partnerships.

A moment that changed your life?

Definitely the eight years I spent in Frankfurt am Main. I really enjoyed my time there and learned a great deal about the ETF business and German culture.

What cars do you own? Which is your favorite?

Since 2017, I’ve been driving a VW Touareg that I bought while living in Germany. My next car will likely be fully electric.

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?

Follow John Bogle’s advice: Never underestimate the power of compound interest. Start investing early and consistently, keep costs low, diversify broadly, and stay disciplined.

What are you particularly proud of?

That I regularly step out of my comfort zone. It’s always a small challenge, but it helps avoid stagnation.

What was your biggest defeat?

In hindsight, not engaging with the concept of long-term investing earlier.

What is your favorite wine?

I enjoy wine, but I actually prefer gin and tonic, especially with Scottish gin.

What projects are you currently working on?

Professionally, I’m focused on further developing our business with independent asset managers in Switzerland. Personally, I’m concentrating on healthy nutrition.

What is most important to you at the moment?

In general, learning something new every day and continuing to grow. That applies to both my personal and professional life.

What would be the biggest surprise for someone who had to do your job for a day?

Definitely the variety of my role at Vanguard, and the breadth of external and internal contacts i work with. I also enjoy the occasional longer hours – I actually see them as a positive.

What is your personal drive?

Serving our clients. At Vanguard, I see our 50-year-old mission lived out every day: «To give investors the best chance for investment success.» That mission is a key source of motivation for me.

What are you afraid of?

That I stop developing myself. Stagnation equals regression.

Your favorite watch brand?

I have a passion for watches and, lately, I've been exploring microbrands such as Serica – a French company that manufactures in Switzerland.

What do your employees value most about you?

I'm an open person who takes time to discuss topics and look for solutions together.

Your best investment?

ETF saving plans. For over 10 years, I’ve been investing monthly through ETF saving plans. This helps me avoid market timing.

Roger Bootz is the Country Head for Switzerland & Liechtenstein at Vanguard. Before joining Vanguard, he spent eight years in various roles at DWS, most recently serving as Head of Sales Advisory EMEA ex Germany. Prior to that, he held senior positions at UBS, Société Générale, and STOXX. Roger Bootz holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Banking and Finance from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in Winterthur.