Hire a guide to specifically teach you top rope anchors and sport leading? I don't know if your previous experiences with a guide were more education based or experienced based, but they will be happy to not climb at all and just work on building safe anchors.
You and your friends can buy anchor books to learn how to set up good top rope anchors. Bring the book out with you to double check your anchor is good before climbing. Maybe ask someone else at the crag if you're doing it right for a third set of eyes.
You should not try trad leading until you've gotten comfortable building top rope anchors though. One piece at a time.