Modern portfolio theory helps investors construct optimal portfolios through diversification and risk management. It considers how different securities perform relative to each other rather than in isolation. The Markowitz model proposes combining securities with different risk-return profiles to build efficient portfolios along the efficient frontier, which offers maximum return for a given risk level. Investors select their optimal portfolio on the efficient frontier based on their risk tolerance as represented by indifference curves. While theoretically sound, the Markowitz model has limitations in practical application due to its complexity.